New county chief exective is named

There will be an additional performance bonus as part of the package but this is not automatic and will not be available during the first year of employment.

Mr Stigant has worked for the County Council for nearly 20 years in a variety of roles and been a member of the Chief Executive’s Board for the last 12 years.

His current post has been as Executive Director for Communities - responsible for a wide range of services including roads and transport, waste management, Fire and Rescue, and libraries.

County Council Chairman Mark Dunn, who chaired the appointment panel, said: “The formal recruitment process allowed us the opportunity of testing the market in order to find the very best qualified person to steer this authority through some very testing times and enormous financial pressures. I am confident Kieren Stigent will provide the leadership needed during what is a rapid period of change for local government.”

County Council leader Louise Goldsmith said: “Finding new and innovative ways of delivering services and working with our communities to really develop the ‘Big Society’ agenda in West Sussex will be another key task for Kieran.

“It is a huge job because more than 760,000 residents in West Sussex depend on our services. I have every confidence in him, and am looking forward to working closely with him. Kieran will also be responsible for ensuring the success of the new public health role that the Government is giving local authorities, so he faces a very busy agenda.”

Kieran, 45, said: “I am grateful for the confidence that has been shown in me, and look forward to working with a wide range of partner organisations, and our local communities over the coming years.I am under no illusions about the scale of the task, but I do believe that strong partnerships are key to ensuring a decent standard of services for the residents we are here to serve.”