20/07/04 - New Chief Executive for Cumbria County Council

Peter Stybelski, currently Chief Executive at Carlisle City Council, has been recommended by a panel of county councillors to be the new Chief Executive for Cumbria County Council. He was selected following a detailed recruitment process which culminated in interviews held yesterday. The recommendation from the Chief Officers Panel will be considered by the County Council when it meets next week on Thursday the 29th July. 

Peter has worked for Carlisle City since 2000. Before that he worked for Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council, where he was the Director of Leisure Services. Peter has also worked for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Blackpool Borough Council and Oxford City Council. He has a BSc in Geography and an MSc in Landscape Ecology. 

One of Peter’s main achievements in Carlisle has been to help secure the "good" rating in their Comprehensive Performance Assessment. This experience will be invaluable as he works with councillors and officers across the county council over the months ahead as the Council heads towards the next main CPA review next year. 

Rex Toft, Leader of Cumbria County Council who chaired the Chief Officers Panel says: 

"We were extremely impressed with Peter's application and his commitment to local government in Cumbria. He comes with extensive experience of working in this part of the country and has a real feel for the issues concerning local people. 

Local government is working hard to deal with the challenges of modernising and improving services. At the same time we are preparing for the potential move to a unitary council, which would result from a "yes" vote in the forthcoming referendum on regional government. 

Peter will bring his considerable knowledge of the challenges and opportunities facing the county. This will be a great asset as we develop and implement our countywide corporate and sub-regional strategies. We are confident that Peter is the right person to lead the council through this time of change and will be recommending his appointment to all councillors when we meet next week." 

Speaking earlier today, Peter Stybelski says, 

"I am delighted to be recommended for this important position at a significant time for local government in the County. I am looking forward to working with councillors and staff at the County Council in striving for excellence and helping make further progress in delivering quality services to the people of Cumbria. 

Obviously, I will be sorry to leave Carlisle City Council where I have had an enjoyable four and a half years. The authority, with the hard work of councillors and staff, has achieved a great deal, not least the ‘good’ assessment in the CPA process. But it is time for me to move on and to support local government throughout the whole County." 

Peter Stybelski will take over from Interim Chief Executive, John Harwood in the autumn.