New senior officers appointed after shake-up of team

Durham County Council has appointed new senior officers after a shake-up of its corporate management team.

Last year, councillors backed plans to create two new £148,583-a-year posts following the departure of several council officers.

The roles include corporate directors for “regeneration, economy and growth” and “neighbourhoods and climate change”.

In recent months, the recruitment process and interviews have been taking place behind closed doors.

At a full council meeting, council leader Simon Henig revealed the names of the successful candidates.

Current head of digital and customer services on the council, Alan Patrickson, will take on the portfolio of neighbourhoods and climate change in April.

The officer has been with the council since 2012 and was previously employed as a “waste project director” with experience working with the private sector and waste-related contracts, councillors were told.

Amy Harhoff, director of regeneration and growth at Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, will also take on

Durham’s regeneration, economy and growth role – with a start date to be confirmed.

Previous experience includes roles at Transport for Greater Manchester, Transport for the North, Sheffield City Region and Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council. Coun Henig told the meeting: “I would like to extend my congratulations to both of them and I’m sure they will be positive additions to our corporate management team.”

A report last year confirmed the two roles will replace the, now deleted, Corporate Director of Regeneration and Local Services role.