New Executive Director joins Senior Leadership Team

West Berkshire Council has appointed a new Executive Director to lead its Place directorate.

Clare Lawrence will take up the new post in March and will lead a directorate which delivers a broad range of services ranging from housing, transport and environmental delivery through to planning, economic development and public protection. The role, which oversees a £30m revenue budget and around 430 employees, is one of three Executive Directors reporting to the Chief Executive.

Clare arrives at West Berkshire Council having spent 30 years in local government working at a number of councils, including two in Berkshire. Currently Clare is Director of Environment, Housing and Regeneration at Epsom and Ewell Borough Council in Surrey. In that role Clare has led place-shaping work including the Local Plan and development of a town centre masterplan, delivered improvement programmes and contributed towards growth and regeneration projects.

Speaking about the appointment, West Berkshire Council's Chief Executive Nigel Lynn said:

"I am delighted to welcome Clare to the Council and look forward to working with her. She was an outstanding candidate with a strong track record delivering place-based services on behalf of local communities. I am pleased that we have been able to appoint a candidate with Clare's experience to join the senior leadership team as we look to navigate what will be challenging few years for local authorities."

Speaking about her appointment ahead of her arrival in West Berkshire early next year, Clare said: "

"I am very excited to be joining  West Berkshire Council as the Executive Director of Place in March 2023. 

"The Place Directorate is key to the successful delivery of high quality services to support residents and businesses.  West Berkshire is a successful district and a great place to live and work. I am committed to working collaboratively with the community and partners to drive forward programmes and projects to enhance the quality of the district and to support the community."

Among the key projects Clare will be involved in will be the delivery of a new Council Strategy 2023-27 which will be implemented next year, a review of the West Berkshire Local Plan and the delivery of the town-centre strategies for Newbury, Thatcham and Hungerford.