"A job that sells itself!"

Bath & North East Somerset Council leader Cllr Kevin Guy on why you should apply to be their new Chief Executive.

From a world-famous historic city to stunning countryside, it’s hard to beat as a place to live, work and play.

That’s why the chance to be chief executive of Bath & North East Somerset Council is a job ‘that sells itself’, says leader Councillor Kevin Guy.

Endowed with double world heritage status by UNESCO for its Roman and Georgian architecture and for being ‘one of the great spa towns of Europe’, Bath has long been one of the most desirable cities to live in Britain.

But taken as a whole, the council area defies definition, says Cllr Guy, thanks to its unique blend of urban, rural, affluence and deprivation.

Couple that with a council that is very much on the front foot and ambitious to be at the vanguard of local government innovation and you have a compelling prospect for the next chief executive.

‘Our current chief executive, Will Godfrey, has done an amazing job in transforming what was a fairly staid and steady organisation. Like all councils we have challenges but we’re in a stable financial situation and are well placed to be bold and creative and to be forward-looking.

‘I think that’s what makes this such an interesting role – the chance to innovate in one of the most beautiful places in Europe. We are very keen to find someone who looks and thinks outside the box, who’s ambitious and likes to drive change.’

The council’s biggest asset is its workforce, says Cllr Guy, with surveys showing high levels of satisfaction among staff. The new chief executive will inherit a talented team, from high-performing social workers to the council’s dedicated heritage department – which has built an international reputation and is currently working on plans for a ‘V&A style’ fashion museum.

‘It’s very important that myself and the new chief work together to help to empower the cabinet and senior management team to work as one collective voice. Also, we have over 3,000 members of staff and it’s important the chief executive gets to know them and helps to empower younger staff to come forward and be future senior managers.’

One of the key priorities will be to take forward the area’s new Local Plan. In an area that’s twothirds green belt and contains a World Heritage Site, meeting tough housing targets is a key challenge. At the same time, house prices are among the highest outside London.

The Liberal Democrat administration is committed to tackling housing affordability head on. The council has created an armslength housing company which - for the first time in a generation - is seeing new council homes in Bath and North East Somerset, particularly focused on key worker housing.

Cllr Guy says it’s just one example of the council’s determination to recognise the area’s complex make up and to tackle inequality. He believes the Local Plan offers an opportunity to be an inspiration to municipal authorities across the globe.

‘It’s such an important piece of work. Bath can be a leading example of how you can build sustainably and protect heritage at the same time. Working in partnership with UNESCO, we can be an exemplar for the world.’

Given the diverse make up of Bath and North East Somerset, it’s essential the new chief executive gets to know the array of towns and villages and the communities within them as well as the council’s wide range of partners.

‘It’s a very difficult area to comprehend,’ explains Cllr Guy. ‘We have high-flying chief executives of big companies living here and some of the most deprived areas of the south west. We have two outstanding universities that are critical to regeneration in the city, we have the ICB, the mayor and the combined authority. You have to be able to navigate all of that.’

Through initiatives like the Somer Valley Enterprise Zone, the council and its partners are helping to tailor regeneration plans in the area’s market and former mining towns and villages.

‘Some of these towns have the same issues as northern mining towns and yet they are just a few miles from a world city. But then Bath itself has pockets with the sort of challenges you’d find in major inner-city areas.

‘It’s important for the chief executive to be able to communicate on all levels. That’s why it requires someone who is confident, extrovert, willing to get out and meet our communities and be part of the community.’

If they fully embrace the role, they Cllr Guy believes they will reap the rewards.

‘It’s a genuine honour to be custodians of one of the most beautiful and historic parts of the country. But we want to be forward thinking and ambitious.

‘We want someone who embraces those challenges, who thinks outside the box and wants to break new ground. We are happy to empower them to be that creative mind.’

Originally published in the Municipal Journal, 4 September 2025.

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