Savings on the cards as council seeks to cut number of most senior staff

Following the decision by the council’s chief executive to leave her post at the end of March 2026, councillors are being recommended to appoint two existing executive directors into new joint chief executive roles - charged with leading the council through the challenges of delivering local government reorganisations, devolution, maintaining essential public services and financial sustainability in the next two years.  

As their existing posts would not be recruited into, the number of the most senior staff would therefore reduce by one and save up to £92,000 a year.  

The proposal is subject to agreement by the council’s Staff Appointments Committee, which will meet on 20 February. If they make an appointment, the decision then needs to be ratified by all councillors when they meet on 19 March 2026. 

Councillor Matthew Hicks, Suffolk County Council’s leader, said:  

“Suffolk County Council is facing a critical time over the next two years, with local government reorganisation, devolution and its duties to provide quality services to the people of Suffolk all happening at the same time.  

“That is why this proposal has been specifically designed to make the best use of the excellent experience and expertise we already have in the council, which can be implemented quickly and at a significantly reduced cost to the Suffolk taxpayer.  

“I’d like to thank our chief executive once again for her hard work and dedication throughout the past eight years. Her expertise and love of Suffolk will be missed, but I am confident this proposal is absolutely right for the county council.”  

The report highlights how the council’s constitution requires it to have a designated head of paid service, charged with leading the council’s employees as they deliver services to residents. Significant uncertainty in the local authority chief executive recruitment market has led to many county councils, including Leicestershire, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Essex and Hampshire all making internal appointments in recent months, having advertised the roles externally.  

The proposal to recruit internally would save time, money on salaries and recruitment, and make use of existing, well-developed relationships with partner organisations and knowledge of Suffolk.  

One of the joint chief executives would be responsible for local government reorganisation, devolution, transformation and change programmes. The other would be responsible for delivering safe, high-quality and reliable services to residents, robust financial controls and ensuring the council meets all of its statutory duties and requirements following independent inspections. The joint chief executives would each lead on their own areas of responsibility but work together to ensure focus is maintained across the council’s duties and priorities.  

Any appointments would be subject to councillor approval and the completion of a successful recruitment process.