By Jeremy Sollars
The Southern Downs Regional Council has appointed its Director of Sustainable Development Jane Stroud as Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Councillors at their April meeting held earlier today – Wednesday 29 April – voted unanimously on Ms Stroud’s appointment, which will run until such time as a permanent replacement is found for outgoing CEO David Keenan, whose departure from the council was announced last Friday.
Councillors also voted to engage a recruitment consultancy firm – as yet not identified – to undertake the CEO recruitment process. Such a process is usually conducted nationally.
Ms Stroud has been a council director since late 2018. Her appointment as Acting CEO will take effect from this Friday 1 May.
The discussion on the appointment took place during a confidential section of today’s meeting but the vote was taken when the meeting re-opened to public live-streaming.
One of Ms Stroud’s key initial tasks will be to assist councillors with preparation of the 2020-2021 budget, due to be handed down in June.
The budget was not discussed at today’s meeting and the council is yet to indicate its position on potential rates relief for residential and commercial property owners in the region impacted by COVID-19.
