Thanet council Director of Community Services, Rob Kenyon ‘axed’ in ‘significant’ restructure

Rob Kenyon

Thanet council’s Director of Community Services, Rob Kenyon, has left his role after less than two years.

His departure is a result of voluntary redundancy as Thanet council restructures following the failed East Kent councils merger bid. The authority now has to save an additional £2million per year, requiring ‘significant restructuring.’

Mr Kenyon was responsible for economic development, regeneration, heritage, planning, building control, enforcement, housing, licensing, tourism, leisure, events, museums, community safety.

The former pilot received £90,381, cash benefits £4,000, pension £12,441, equalling £106,822, for the April 2016-March 2017 financial year.

Mr Kenyon took up his role at the start of 2016. He left a position as chief officer for Health Partnerships at Leeds City Council and moved his family to Thanet.

He represented Thanet council at the switch on of the neon Dreamland sign with Tracey Emin in May and was involved in the now axed Pride in Thanet awards.

He also championed Thanet tourism and the creative industries.

In his former post in Leeds he had been responsible for establishing the Health and Wellbeing Board and Integrated Commissioning Executive.

Mr Kenyon will continue in his work as a non-executive director with Solace in Business (SiB), formerly Solace Enterprises Limited,which is a consultancy specialising in supporting the public sector.

A joint statement issued by Thanet council this morning says: “Rob has contributed in helping Thanet District Council’s Corporate Management Team successfully complete the organisation’s LGA improvement programme.

“As the East Kent merger did not materialise, the council needs to save an additional £2million per annum and Rob appreciates that delivering further efficiency savings will require significant restructuring.

“Rob has been offered the chance to undertake a leadership programme over the next year, aimed at aspiring Chief Executives.

“Having delivered an ambitious programme of improvement and reform, he has offered to take voluntary redundancy which will allow him to take up this exciting opportunity and enable the organisation to restructure more effectively.

“Rob remains committed to Thanet’s development, and he and his family are looking forward to playing an active part in the future of the Island as local residents.”

 

2 Comments

  1. Rob was a complete breath of fresh air, he will be sorely missed. TDC could easily save £2m by ending their habit of throwing good money after bad. Let’s hope he doesn’t leave with the only key to the bilge pumps! Hope we see him again soon in a more executive role!

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