Richard Bates is to be confirmed as permanent joint strategic director of finance/section 151 officer at Guildford and Waverley borough councils.
As reported, Bates was made interim s151 at the authorities in July 2023 following a warning that Guildford could be in section 114 territory. He took on the role of interim joint strategic director of finance after that.
Bates’ path to the permanent role was made clear by the fact that no other application was received.
Following a job interview earlier this month, Bates was recommended unanimously to both Guildford and Waverley borough councils to confirm his formal appointment to the role.
Confirmation of the appointment is expected to take place at full meetings of Guildford council today (16 April) and Waverley council on 23 April.
Bates has previously been s151 officer at Dorset County Council and interim s151 officer at Mendip District Council.
At the Guildford council meeting where Bates was appointed interim s151 officer, members questioned why the authority had had four chief financial officers (both interim and permanent) in two years. Tom Horwood, Guildford’s chief executive, noted his concern that “we as a council show that we are robust, resolute and still attractive to senior accountants in the local government sector of calibre, who would therefore wish to work for us”.
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