Merton Council has announced how the Council will be managed in the interim while it awaits the recruitment of a new Chief Executive.

Richard Rawes, Director of Environmental Services has been appointed Acting Head of Paid Service, a role in which he will have overall accountability for the effective delivery of all services across the authority. During this time Richard will continue to be Director of Environmental Services.

To work in parallel with Richard Rawes, the Council has appointed Eleanor Kelly, a Regional Director from the Government Support Agency, Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) as Interim Executive Director. Her role will be to provide strategic support to the corporate management team until a new Chief Executive starts at Merton.

Leader of the Council, Councillor Andrew Judge said: “We wish Roger well as he leaves us to take early retirement.

‘Myself and lead members of the Council have agreed these interim arrangements, which we are confident will continue to develop and improve the Council until a new Chief Executive joins us.

“We are on a journey at Merton. Our destination is to become an excellent Council. Our journey requires innovation, commitment and hard work – attributes this authority has plenty of.

“This is a challenging time for Merton. One which will take us closer to our final destination, to become an excellent authority.”

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