WREXHAM County Borough Council has formally appointed Alwyn Jones as its new Chief Executive.
Mr Jones – previously the authority’s Chief Officer for Social Care – has been acting as interim Chief Executive since January 1 following the departure of Ian Bancroft.
Political leaders from across the chamber have welcomed the appointment.
Council leader Cllr Mark Pritchard said: “We were fortunate to have some excellent candidates and I’m delighted that we’ve been able to appoint Alwyn Jones to the permanent role.
“Alwyn has done a fantastic job as interim Chief Executive and we know he has the skills to lead the organisation forward with confidence.
“This is an exciting time for the council and for the county borough. I look forward to continuing to work with Alwyn and the senior leadership team so we can face challenges and maximise opportunities together, ensuring Wrexham continues to grow and thrive.”
Labour group leader Dana Davies also welcomed the appointment, while praising the standard of candidates who showed interest in the role.
“I look forward to working with Alwyn to address the difficult and widely publicised imminent challenges that Wrexham County Borough Council faces,” she said.
“We have talented, hard-working, skilled staff and officers within our authority and this appointment is a testament to that.
“It is important to recognise that within this recruitment process we had a number of high-quality applicants who I believe were drawn to this role by the potential in Wrexham.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank our workforce and officers for all they do, day-in and day-out, to serve our communities and deliver vital services to our residents.”
Plaid Cymru group leader Marc Jones pointed to Mr Jones’ previous role, leading social services, as a crucial factor – with social care posing one of the most significant and unpredictable budget pressures the authority faces.
“I welcome Alwyn Jones’s appointment,” he said. “The new Chief Executive brings a wealth of experience in a critical area of council work, namely social services.
“There are a number of challenges facing this authority as we move forward but I look forward to working with him and others to make Wrexham a better place to live and work in the future.”
Cllr Anthony Wedlake, leader of the new Progressive Independent grouping within Wrexham Council, laid out some of the key challenges facing the new Chief Executive.
“I welcome Alwyn’s appointment as it provides some continuity whilst bringing new ideas to the leadership of the management team,” he said. “Alwyn is approachable and well-respected and has a big challenge ahead of him.
“As well as the funding challenges of a continuing austerity agenda, it is also clear from the recent external Panel Performance Assessment (PPA) report that the council is not performing as it should.
“Key internal practices and democratic processes are not fit for purpose, particularly in relation to leadership, organisational culture and internal and external communications.
“The council’s cost pressures continue to be in areas where austerity is having its biggest impact – the young and the old. This is compounded by having to rely on the private sector to deliver many of these services.
“It is essential that these areas are addressed if the council is to make improvements in the services it delivers.”
