Jane Portman appointed as interim CEO at Cotswold District Council
Cotswold District Council has confirmed the appointment of Jane Portman as its new CEO.
At a special full council meeting this afternoon, the recommendation of the appointment panel to appoint Jane Portman was approved.
Jane will start in the post next month.
With almost 40-years of public service experience, she joins with particular and significant first-hand knowledge on leading councils through local government reorganisation (LGR), where she collaborated and led on programmes in Dorset and Somerset.
Gloucestershire’s seven principal councils are currently in the early stages of a similar reorganisation.
In a statement on her appointment, Jane said: “I’m thrilled to be appointed CEO of Cotswold District Council. This is a time of both great opportunity and unique challenge, and I’m excited to start working with councillors, colleagues and partners, to overcome hurdles, engage thoroughly, and collaborate effectively to achieve our priorities.
“And while local government reorganisation will be a big priority, we have a responsibility and duty to meet the needs of residents now. I’m committed to ensuring that – as local authority financial challenges become more acute – we’re delivering excellent services for residents, facilitating economic growth, sustainably meeting requirements to build new homes, and providing support to those in our communities who need it most.”
Cllr Mike Evemy, leader of Cotswold District Council, said: “I’m delighted to introduce Jane as the council’s new chief executive. She was selected unanimously by the cross-party appointments panel and her nomination has been resoundingly confirmed by council members.
“I look forward to working with Jane to deliver an agenda focussed on change and transformation. Her stewardship of the team here will see us work collaboratively with partners and with communities across the district to ensure Cotswold District Council leaves a strong legacy while positioning the area for success in a new model of local government.”
Contact Information
Cotswold District Council Communications Team
Notes to editors
We earlier advised that Cotswold District Council was meeting today to consider the recommendation from Leader of the Council and chair of the Performance and Appointments Committee, Cllr Mike Evemy, to recruit Jane Portman as interim-Chief Executive Officer.
Jane was most recently CEO at South Somerset District Council, where she worked with fellow council chief executives in the area on a programme of local government reorganisation, which resulted in the creation of a new unitary council for Somerset.
Prior to that, she led adult social services at Bournemouth Council before being appointed as Managing Director in 2017, and later as the Interim Head of Paid Service for the shadow authority of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, one of two unitary authorities created in Dorset, before its vesting in April 2019.
Jane began her career as a teacher on the UK’s south coast, before moving to work in education at Northamptonshire County Council, Bristol City Council and Borough of Poole Council. She has also occupied interim leadership positions at Oxfordshire County Council and Cherwell District Council.