Chief Executive Background
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council’s Chief Executive is Alistair Neill. He joined MTCBC in 2003 following 21 years in the private sector and one year in Northamptonshire County Council. Having worked for Unilever, BP and Masco at Board level, he developed the ambition to move into local government and apply some of the experience gained in business.
A Scotsman, with a degree from Glasgow University, he made Wales his home 15 years ago, and continues to see positive prospects for the further regeneration of Merthyr Tydfil.
Developing the Best
I knew Merthyr Tydfil well for many years before becoming part of the Council. It is very well recognised across Britain as a region that has contributed hugely to the economic development of the whole country – and internationally. Merthyr Tydfil was, of course, a driving force of the industrial revolution: the challenge for some time now has been to focus ahead and determine how to successfully build a strong, dynamic and thriving local region, tackling the problems that have beset the county borough for so long.
Our Vision
Working alongside nearly 4,000 colleagues, we are Team Merthyr, committed to changing the Council and the region for the better. The Council set out its Vision in 2003 – that Merthyr Tydfil will be a safe, healthy and exciting place to live and visit, with a time-line of 2010 to bring about some step changes. Our vision included being recognized as a vibrant thriving regional centre for the valleys. We have accomplished so much in this period through partnership, and working with the community, so that now in 2008 we can already see a great many improvements that have taken place. For example, new and important retail centres, a new regional multiplex cinema, new Merthyr Leisure Village, a new Welsh Assembly building and new schools. There has been more new housing being built than for decades - demonstrating the new confidence of a region that people are increasingly moving into as opposed to leaving. The population actually increased last year, in contrast to decades of the fastest population decline in Wales.
Transformational Performance
The Council has transformed its performance – recognized by the Audit Commission in Wales, by a range of external reports and by a number of top performance prizes. In 2008, MTCBC received a report on a year-long joint review of its social services, carried out by the Audit Commission and the Social Services Inspectorate for Wales. Whilst Merthyr Tydfil has to contend with some of the most challenging socio-economic problems of any part of the UK, this report concluded that the Council’s delivery of social services was, for the first time, in the highest quartile in Wales. Earlier this year too, the Council won a national Regeneration ‘Excellence in Wales Award’ – recognizing how much regeneration has taken shape in the county borough.
The Way Ahead
There remains much to do, but we know if we stay focused, we can achieve a great deal together. Later in the year we will attach the new Corporate Plan, identifying priorities for the next period. Attached currently is the Improvement Report 2007, which is the basis of the 2008 Corporate Plan.
If you need to reach me, my office is at the Civic Centre, Castle Street, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 8AN and further details are provided below.
|