MALVERN Town Council has appointed a full-time town clerk following the controversial sacking of the previous holder of the role.
Linda Blake, who joined the council in 2001 and has been deputy clerk for the past eight years, was confirmed in the position last week.
The qualified accountant has acted in the role since former clerk Richard Chapman was suspended in October following allegations of bullying and ultimately dismissed in April.
In appointing a successor the council has also decided to streamline its senior management team reducing it from three posts to two in a bid to make annual cost savings.
The move has seen Charles Porter confirmed as the newly defined Operations Manager, who has served in a similar capacity for over decade at the council. Significantly, he will also deputise for the new town clerk.
Following the announcements Mrs Blake said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be given this opportunity.
“There are exciting and challenging times ahead for the town council and both Charles and I are committed to ensuring that this council continues to strive for excellence and to improve the services that it provides.
“Malvern Town Council has an excellent team of staff and following the reorganisation, we can now move forward and work alongside our councillors to serve Malvern for the benefit of its residents, businesses, voluntary groups and the local community as a whole.”
Mayor Julian Roskams welcomed the new appointments at a time when he declared local council’s were facing ‘their most severe test ever’.
“We are exceptionally fortunate to have Linda at the helm at this time.
“She has many years’ local government experience and exceptional financial acumen.
“But at the same time she brings to the council youthful energy, enthusiasm, new ways of thinking and fresh ways of working.
“This is an enviable combination and one that will stand us in very good stead as the council faces a challenging but exciting future.
“She will receive great support from Charles, who has an unparallelled grasp of operational management and is now looking forward to the challenge of taking on new responsibilities.
“We know too that the entire town council staff are fully behind Charles and Linda, and the council as a whole are looking forward to a bright future.”
