Shared chief of councils appointed

Wes Lumley, 53, currently heads Bolsover District Council and will take up his joint role on April 1 this year – the same day the authorities launch their “strategic alliance.”

Through joining together, the authorities, which have pledged to freeze council tax, aim to cut staffing costs and “plough savings into protecting front-line services and keeping Council Tax bills low.”

They say they will keep their political, geographical and administrative independence.

In a joint statement, leader of Bolsover District Council Eion Watts and leader of North East Derbyshire District Council Graham Baxter said: “We are very pleased that Wes Lumley has accepted this challenging role.

“He has an excellent track record of working with officers and members to deliver the highest quality, most cost effective council services for local people.”

North East Derbyshire District Council’s chief executive Mike Goodwin will be taking early retirement at the end of March.