New chief executive appointed for Central Bedfordshire Council

CBC’s director of place and communities has been chosen to replace departing chief executive Richard Carr.

Mr Carr is stepping down from his £190,000 a year role after 11 years in the post.

Mr Coiffait was CBC’s director of community services, before switching to his current position in February.

He has been with the local authority for seven-and-a-half years, having previously worked for Stevenage Borough Council

He joined CBC in October 2009, after the merger of the district councils of Mid-Bedfordshire and South Bedfordshire on April 1, 2009.

His appointment was ratified at a full council meeting, but only after councillors went into private session to discuss his remuneration package.

An appointment sub-committee met to finalise its choice of candidate on Monday.

Yesterday (Thursday), Conservative council leader James Jamieson told the full council meeting: “After a fairly rigorous process to examine who could be a new chief executive, the appointment sub-committee made a recommendation to appoint Marcel Coiffait.”

Independent Aspley and Woburn councillor John Baker said: “I want to offer my congratulations to the newly appointed chief executive.

“I think it’s very important before we formally accept this nomination that the council understands a little about the remuneration package for the chief executive.

“I’m sure my residents want to know how much this is going to cost the council on an annual basis, and about any performance related targets which might be associated.

“So I’m wondering if someone would share that information with me.”

Labour Parkside councillor Antonia Ryan said her question was the same as councillor Baker’s.

As she began to expand on that, Conservative Cranfield and Marston Moretaine councillor suggested the meeting would have to discuss such issues in private.

Mr Coiffait faces several key challenges as he adapts to the new job. Covid-19 remains a financial burden on the council in addition to its impact on health services, and CBC still has to get its Local Plan approved by government inspectors, with more public hearings a possibility before the end of the year.

Also, the council's children’s services department has come under close scrutiny from parents and independent councillors, after a critical Ofsted and Care Quality Commission report into its special educational needs and disability (SEND) provision.

The council has just compiled a sustainability plan as part of its intention to meet carbon neutral targets and adapt to climate change demands.

Mr Carr delayed leaving the council because of Covid-19, saying: “It didn’t feel right to announce my departure at the very time we needed to refocus the organisation on supporting our community through this awful pandemic.”