It looks like Macclesfield's largest form of local government has a temporary new head at the helm, as the search for a permanent replacement continues.

Cheshire East Council is set to appoint a new interim chief executive.

This follows outgoing Chief Executive Dr Lorraine O Donnell's decision to head for Bradford Council earlier this year.

David Parr OBE has been chosen as the temporary person in charge of Cheshire East Council.

His position is set to be confirmed in Macclesfield next week. (Image - Halton Borough Council)

David, who was a long-serving chief executive at Halton Borough Council, has been identified as the preferred candidate by the council's appointments committee. 

The new interim chief executive may look familiar to Maxonians, as he used to serve on the old Macclesfield Borough Council.

Belinda Ryan of the Local Democracy Reporting Service reports that "Cheshire East Council is to pay its new stand-in boss a whopping £1,200 a day.

"Agency fees mean the cost to Cheshire East will actually be £1,380 a day plus VAT."

Cheshire East Council HQ in Sandbach, England.

The recommendation of the appointments committee has to be approved by full council on 18 October before a formal appointment can be made. The public are welcome to attend next Wednesday's meeting, at Macclesfield Town Hall.

In a statement, Cheshire East Council wrote: "David has extensive experience in local government, having been chief executive in three authorities, including former Macclesfield Borough Council (before it was reorganised as part of Cheshire East Council in 2009)."

"David's partnership approach has delivered many significant achievements and opportunities for the communities he has served, most notably the delivery of the £1.5 billion Mersey Gateway Bridge project, and he brings with him valuable experience of all areas of local government.

"In 2019, David was awarded an OBE for services to local government in Halton and Cheshire and prior to this he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration by the University of Chester for services to Cheshire and local government."

He was awarded an OBE four years ago. (Image - Halton Borough Council)

He spent eighteen years at the top of Halton Borough Council.

Councillor Sam Corcoran, leader of Cheshire East Council, said: "I'm delighted that someone with David's experience has been identified as Cheshire East Council's interim chief executive. The chief executive role plays a critical part in us navigating our way through the challenges that local government is facing and enables us to deliver against the priorities that we have for the borough. 

"I would like to thank Dr Lorraine O'Donnell, as our departing chief executive, for her work and wish her well in her new role. Lorraine's contribution to developing the organisation we are today has been significant and invaluable.

"This has been a time of change for Cheshire East Council and Lorraine has been a driving force, supporting and delivering our vision for the borough. The work continues to find a new permanent chief executive, and David's leadership in the interim, will help us in the next stage of our journey, seizing new opportunities and meeting the challenges that we have ahead of us." 

Cheshire East Council do things like maintaining parks and taking out your bins. The Chief Executive manages the corporate side of the council and are hired, which is different to Council leaders which are political and are elected into their post. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

The new temporary Cheshire East chief executive left Halton Borough Council in March 2022.

A job listing states that there are just two days left to apply for Cheshire East Council's Chief Executive, however, with this temporary appointment set to be confirmed just a few days after, it is likely the job posting will be extended.

Councillor Craig Browne, deputy leader of the council said, "I'm pleased to support the recommendation of David's appointment, to full council. He is an experienced leader with a track record on making a difference across Cheshire and Halton.

"His local knowledge will be a great asset while he supports us as the interim chief executive. He is joining us at a challenging time especially in respect to the financial position of local government and more specifically in Cheshire East, where we are where we are seeking to understand the impact of the government's decision to cancel HS2. 

According to jobs.localgov.co.uk, The next permanent head of Cheshire East Council will be paid a salary of circa £180,000. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

"Lorraine joined Cheshire East Council just as the first COVID lockdown began. In her three and a half years as chief executive, Lorraine has supported the organisation through the duration of the pandemic. 

"This has included leading significant changes to working practices for our officers and councillors alike. Lorraine can be proud of many achievements – not least supporting the move to the committee system – a significantly different form of governance and decision-making for the council. The organisation is now in a strong position - I thank her and wish her luck for the future."

Earlier this year, it was reported that the new permanent chief executive appointment of Cheshire East Council could earn up to £190,000 per year.

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