South Tyneside Independents» South Tyneside Council » The Journal reveals South Tyneside Council’s next chief executive

The Journal reveals South Tyneside Council’s next chief executive

It seems council leader Iain Malcolm’s ‘special relationship’ with the editor of the Shields Gazette (Szymanski) did not extend to giving him an ‘exclusive’ on the news that South Tyneside Council have appointed Martin Swales as their next chief executive – obviously it did not suit Cllr Malcolm’s agenda!

Instead it was left to the Journal (a paper Szymanski dislikes intensely) to break the news to the residents of South Tyneside ahead of the local paper and this is how they did it http://blogs.journallive.co.uk/journalblogcentral/2009/11/exodus.html

Martin Swales is currently Executive Director of Development at North Tyneside Council where he has spearheaded significant jobs growth and regeneration. He also has a regional role as lead officer for employment and skills in the Tyne and Wear City Region; and played a significant role in developing the A19 corridor both within North Tyneside and the sub region. His regional work leading on regenerating the Tyne bank north of the Tyne with renewable, low carbon industries, including wind turbines, is also significant.

Martin Swales, 47, is originally from South Tyneside – born in Jarrow, educated in Hebburn, living in Boldon and also spending much of his teenage years in South Shields.

He said: “I am absolutely delighted to be offered the post of Chief Executive with South Tyneside Council. I will bring all of the experience I have gained elsewhere to my home roots to accelerate improvement and prosperity.

“The big issues around how we achieve economic growth and create jobs, then cascade that improvement down into local communities is a clear priority. Listening and responding at a neighbourhood level, living up to our promises by delivering improvements relevant to people’s lives in our local neighbourhoods is what matters most.

“I look forward to working in such a high performing council with such highly performing partnership working. The effectiveness of the Local Strategic Partnership has really been demonstrated to me throughout the recruitment process and I want to build on that success as well as the significant regional and national profile South Tyneside has built up in recent years”.

Martin Swales’ education and career have also taken him to Leeds where he went to University and worked in the City Council’s Leisure Services. Before joining North Tyneside Council to take up a leisure management role, he managed leisure services in Middlesbrough. For the past eight years Martin Swales has held an Executive Director role in North Tyneside and he also currently supports the Chief Executive at North Tyneside Council in a Deputy Chief Executive role.