Council leaders ask Chief Executive to delay his retirement

Friday 15th January 2010

Adur and Worthing's Chief Executive Ian Lowrie has been asked to delay his retirement date by the two council leaders, Neil Parkin and Paul Yallop.

Following a high level meeting between the leading councillors of Adur District and Worthing Borough Councils, the joint Chief Executive of the two councils, Ian Lowrie, has been asked to delay his retirement date.

On appointment to his joint role in 2007 Mr Lowrie had indicated that he intended to retire in 2010.

Councillor Paul Yallop, Leader of Worthing Borough Council, explained that the request for Mr Lowrie to say in post until 2011 related to delivery of remaining key stages of the groundbreaking partnership project between Adur and Worthing councils.

“This project has been highly successful. We are already saving over £1 million every year, our joint services are very popular and many other councils round the country are following the lead given by Worthing and Adur."

"But pulling staff and services together is complicated and we would like the current Chief Executive to see it through” he said.

Councillor Neil Parkin, Leader at Adur District, in supporting these comments said: “With the very difficult financial climate faced by both councils the people of Adur and Worthing have quite frankly already been saved from savage cuts as a result of our partnership working. It is now even more important that we achieve yet more efficiencies from the partnership over the next couple of years. So in the interest of the tax payers of Adur and Worthing changing the top manager would not make sense at a time like this if it can be avoided.”

Chief Executive Ian Lowrie had indicated his willingness to delay his retirement. He said: “The Adur and Worthing partnership has been a really exciting and rewarding task to be heading up over the last few years. Whilst I have for a couple of years been old enough to choose to retire (at no cost to the councils), I am keen to see the project through. So it is very pleasing to be asked to stay on for a bit long and I am honoured to accept.”

Posted by Kim for Adur District Council