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First chief appointed at new 'super council'
Jul 4, 2008
ONE of the most highly regarded council chief executives in the country has been chosen to run the new ‘super council’ for County Durham.
George Garlick, currently chief executive of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, has been recruited as the first chief executive for the new County Durham unitary council.
He has been appointed by Durham County Council to lead the reorganisation of local government which will see the eight existing councils in the county brought together to create one unitary or ‘all purpose’ council.
Mr Garlick, 52, will become responsible for the biggest local authority in the North East, serving half a million people, employing 22,000 staff and spending about £1 billion a year.
He is the first chief executive to be recruited to the new wave of flagship unitary councils announced by the Government at the end of last year, and as such his recruitment is seen as a national coup for councillors in County Durham,
He brings with him 25 years of local government experience, which has included spells in
senior positions with councils in the North West, Yorkshire and Humberside as well as the North East where he has been chief
executive of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council since 1995.
Mr Garlick led the establishment of Stockton-on-Tees as a unitary council following the abolition of Cleveland County Council in the last major shake-up of local government in the mid-1990s.
Mr Garlick has led major initiatives to regenerate Stockton-on Tees and the wider Tees Valley area.
He helped to develop the Stockton campus of Durham University and the Teesdale and North Shore developments linked to the River Tees Barrage, which has breathed new life into an area blighted by the collapse of traditional heavy industries.
He is a director of Tees Valley Regeneration and has led the work to develop the Tees Valley city region and the pioneering ‘multi- area agreement’, which will secure major Government grants for improving public services and quality of life across the five local authority areas in Tees Valley.
In 2007 he received an OBE for services to local government.
Cllr Simon Henig, Leader of Durham County Council, said: “In George, we have recruited one of the outstanding stars of local government who has built his reputation on leading change, delivering improvements and making things better.
“He has already tackled a similar task to that which he now faces in Durham with great success following the creation of his own unitary council in 1996 and brings with him an impressive track record of achievement which is mirrored in the Audit Commission’s description of Stockton Borough Council as being ‘in the premier league of stellar performers’.
“He has a clear vision for County Durham as a pivotal player in the North East and his considerable experience regionally and nationally will help our area to realise its full potential and stand shoulder to shoulder with the big towns and cities of the region.”
Mr Garlick said last week: “I am absolutely delighted to be offered this post. My experience in Stockton-on-Tees has shown how unitary local government can transform an area and radically improve the quality of council services.
“In all of the existing local authorities in County Durham there is a great deal of talent and pride in providing public services and local community leadership.
“I am going to have the privilege of working with committed councillors and staff to bring all of that together and create a new unitary council of which everyone can be proud.”
Mr Garlick’s appointment is set to be confirmed by a full meeting of the county council on July 25.
He is expected to take up post at the end of September.