COTSWOLD District Council has a new chief executive.

Robert Weaver was confirmed as the new chief executive for the authority at a meeting of full council on September 23.

His appointment was approved unanimously by the full council having been proposed by Council Leader Councillor Joe Harris and seconded by Councillor Hirst.

Mr Weaver said: "I'm absolutely delighted to have been offered the role.

"The council is clearly forward-thinking and has an extensive and ambitious corporate plan.

"Supporting staff and councillors in delivering this plan to the benefit of our businesses and communities will be hugely exciting.

"This is a really challenging time for local government, with staff and members working hard to support our communities through Covid-19 while dealing with very tight budgets.

"Cotswold District Council is a council that is keen to embrace the future and to tackle the key challenges facing the district. I am very much looking forward to taking up my post and working for residents with councillors of all parties."

Mr Weaver was interviewed and recommended for appointment by a cross-party group of members chaired by the leader of the council.

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When he was originally proposed for the role, Councillor Joe Harris, leader of Cotswold District Council, said: “I am delighted to be able to recommend someone of Rob’s calibre to the new post of Chief Executive and I’m particularly pleased that the recommendation from our cross-party appointments panel was unanimous.

"Rob is a rising star in local government and has experience of both service delivery and setting wider strategy, he’s really impressive."

Councillor Richard Morgan, leader of the opposition Conservative group added: "I would like to welcome Mr Weaver to his post and I am looking forward to working with him.

"I would also like to thank the Liberal Democrat administration for allowing three Conservative councillors to take part in the recruitment process."

"The only negative of this appointment is the £333,000 of taxpayers money which the administration has spent on this reorganisation. The process meant we lost two valuable and experienced senior officers and it destabilised the resilience of the council during an unprecedented global pandemic which was unfortunate. However that said, we need to look forward and we are excited about working with Mr Weaver and helping him deliver for our residents."