Winchester gets new chief executive to control £90m budget

Laura Taylor has been appointed to Winchester City Council, which covers Denmead, Whiteley, Wickham and Bishop’s Waltham. She is due to start in early January 2017.

The role is the council’s most senior officer, advising councillors and leading staff management and service delivery.

She will be responsible for 470 staff, a budget of over £90m a year and a capital programme of more than £170m over the next five years.

Mrs Taylor is currently executive director at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and has previously worked at other Hampshire authorities including Test Valley Borough Council and Eastleigh Borough Council.

She has also worked at Mole Valley District Council in Surrey, where she helped to bring the road cycle race event to Surrey in the London 2012 Olympics.

In her current role she is responsible for a number of development and regeneration projects, along with business liaison.

Council leader Cllr Stephen Godfrey said: ‘Laura’s experience and fresh approach will help Winchester to tackle its many challenges, including devolution, improving services against a backdrop of reducing budgets and safeguarding the city’s heritage while looking to the future.’

Mrs Taylor said: ‘Winchester is an attractive place to live, to work and to visit. I look forward to helping members and colleagues work with local communities and organisations to develop and deliver the council’s ambitious plans for the future.’