Bristol City Council appoints interim chief executive

An interim chief executive has been formally appointed by councilors to lead Bristol City Council.

Paul Martin will start his role as the council’s most senior civil servant on June 10.

He was officially appointed during a full council meeting on Monday that lasted less than five minutes. A cross-party committee of advisers previously interviewed and selected Mr. Martin.

The council’s chief executive is politically neutral, unlike the council leader or a mayor, who are elected politicians in political parties.

The Executive Director is also the main political advisor, manager and coordinator of the council.

Mr Martin is taking up the role on an interim basis, so he may only lead the council for a short time before a long-term replacement is found.

He was previously chief executive of Wandsworth and Richmond-upon-Thames Borough Councils in London, and before that he was chief executive of the Government of Jersey.

Mr Martin will manage the council through a transition period as the new committee system is put in place and will be tasked with advising and supporting councilors in delivering their policies for the city.

For the first time in its history, the authority is led by the Green Party. Southville Councilor Tony Dyer is the leader and Heather Mack is the deputy leader.

Stephen Peacock, former chief executive, is leaving the council for a new role as chief executive of the West of England Combined Authority. He has been in the top job for less than two years.