Deputy Chief Executive to leave Bury Council.

Bury’s Deputy Chief Executive, Ruth Fairhurst is to leave the authority at the end of this month after six years with the Council.

Mrs Fairhurst joined Bury as Assistant Chief Executive in 2006 and was promoted in 2011 to her current post. 

Mrs Fairhurst has been a public servant for almost 20 years, having served communities in various parts of Greater Manchester and has worked extensively in corporate policy, economic development , regeneration and community development; Prior to her appointment in Bury, she was Head of Regeneration and Improvement with Salford City Council; she has also worked for Oldham and Wigan councils.

As Deputy Chief Executive, Mrs Fairhurst has led the council’s change and improvement programme and has been the lead for a number of strategic initiatives across the council’s services and in partnership with a variety of external organisations including: NHS Bury; Greater Manchester Police; Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, the further and higher education sectors, and the community and voluntary sector.

She has also managed the Council’s policy and improvement; legal and democratic services; human resources and organisational development; and communities teams. Most recently, she has also managed the strategic Public Health function.

Mrs Fairhurst is taking voluntary severance at the end of the year to enable her to take more time to provide support for her mother who is elderly and in poor health.

Mrs Fairhurst said: “Close colleagues have been aware of the increasing frailty of my Mother in recent years, and most particularly over the last six months. I have therefore, taken the decision to stand down from my post to spend more time with my Mother, achieve a better work life balance in so doing and, in some small part assist the Council at a time when significant and prolonged cuts to its budget are required.”

She concluded by stating: “It has been a privilege to work for the Council over the last six years. I wish my colleagues, elected members, partners, and above all the communities of Bury well for the future.”

Chief Executive Mike Kelly said;”Ruth Fairhurst has made a lasting and valuable contribution to Bury; she has been a key player in the development of the Council’s Plan for Change and the borough’s public services. Ruth’s request for voluntary severance has significantly contributed to the overall requirement to reduce senior management costs in Bury. We all wish her well for the future”

ENDS

Press release issued: 18 December 2012

Photo attached: Ruth Fairhurst.

For further information please contact the Corporate Communications Team on 0161 253 6096. Alternatively please email communications@bury.gov.uk