Respected council boss set to retire

Search starts for replacement

North Lanarkshire Council chief executive Paul Jukes is to retire this year after three years at the helm of the local authority.

The 59-year-old has been with North Lanarkshire Council since its inception and has given a combined 31 years’ service to the authority and predecessor Motherwell District Council.

Councillors will consider a report on the process of recruiting his successor at their meeting tomorrow.

Mr Jukes told staff: “I am very proud to have been able to serve the council and its communities throughout these years and I believe that we have come a long way in the past three years.

“Council operations have been transformed, with refreshed priorities and a new structure. We are ambitious for our communities and are well placed to deal with the challenges ahead.”

He added: “Three decades is a long time in local government but one thing has not changed: the clear examples of commitment to local communities that I see every day.

“It has been my privilege to work with some outstanding people and I’m inspired by the efforts councillors and staff make to go above and beyond the call of duty.”

Council leader Jim Logue said: “Paul has been a tremendous asset throughout his service and I would like to thank him for his commitment.

“He has outstanding energy and drive to improve things. He has certainly done that in all his time here but particularly in his three years as chief executive.

“Paul has shown vision in transforming the council’s priorities and the way we deliver services in extremely challenging times.

“He will be hard to replace but has set a direction which stands the organisation in good stead for the future.”