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Council chief executive Kersten England set to leave ‘special’ York

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Kersten England, when she was chief executive of City of York Council

Swapping York for Bradford… Kersten England. Photograph: City of York Council
Swapping York for Bradford… Kersten England. Photograph: City of York Council
Kersten England is to leave her role as City of York Council chief executive to do the same job in Bradford.

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council has offered her the post of chief executive, subject to confirmation by councillors, and she has accepted.

The new post could mean a big pay rise. Figures published by the Taxpayers’ Alliance in 2012 put the York council chief executive salary at £156,000 – and the Bradford boss’s pay at £227,234 – more than £70,000 higher.

Ms England said she was excited by the new challenge but sad to leave behind a “special” city like York.

“It has been my privilege to serve the elected representatives and the people of York, alongside the truly talented, professional and committed people working at City of York Council who care deeply about the families and neighbourhoods of this city,” she said.

She said she was proud to be a part of York council and all it has achieved for the past six years, “even in the face of reducing budgets and increasing demands”.

Ms England added:

Whether this has been in improving the physical infrastructure of the city with the completion of the largest transport infrastructure project for decades – the A59 roundabout, the two new Park&Ride sites – and making great strides in key regeneration sites such as York Central and the old Terry’s site; in attracting big names to York’s business community with the likes of Hiscox and John Lewis; in delivering community and sporting provision for York residents via the Community Stadium and the York Sports Village collaboration; in boosting the city’s connectivity by delivering on our Superconnected City status so that residents and businesses can benefit from faster broadband; or in supporting our most vulnerable communities through our partnership work on the Fairness Commission, Living Wage and financial assistance and inclusion schemes. I will always want the best for York and York will always have a staunch supporter in me.