Bury Council chief executive using first 100 days to form priorities

Lynne Ridsdale is listening to residents, businesses, staff and partners to understand what it is like to receive services from, work for and interact with the council.

In her first day in the job on Wednesday, she met with council and NHS staff to hear more about how the borough can strengthen services and work together.

Ms Ridsdale previously served as deputy chief executive for the local authority after joining Bury in 2018 from Manchester City Council, where she was director of human resources and organisational development.

Before that she held the same role with the National Crime Agency, and previously worked as an assistant director at Bolton Council.

From 2017, Ms Ridsdale has been a peer reviewer with the Local Government Association too, supporting other councils on their improvement plans.

She also takes on responsibility as place-based lead for Bury’s Health and Care in Bury, working as part of the Greater Manchester Integrated Commissioning System.

Ms Ridsdale led the development of Bury’s shared vision for 2030, LET’S Do It! and will continue to work with partners to meet its ambitions.

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Council chief executive Lynne Ridsdale (Image: Bury Council)

She said: “After months of preparation it feels fantastic to finally get started and be able to begin building on the great work happening here in Bury, having worked as deputy chief executive I know how much we have improved, and now as chief executive I am positive that we will continue to strengthen our approach even further and build on the great strengths Bury has to offer for the benefit of Bury people and communities.

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"I look forward to working with all our council and NHS staff to achieve our LET’S Do It! strategy and I am very grateful to have this opportunity to enrich life in Bury.”

Ms Ridsdale has been appointed in the position after Geoff Little OBE announced his retirement after more than four years in the role and 45 years of public service.

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Council leader, Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, added: “I am delighted that Lynne is now in post as our chief executive.

"Her work as deputy chief executive has shown she has the drive, talent and experience to lead improvements in council and NHS services, and ensure our borough is in the best place to flourish.

"And now the first substantive female chief executive for Bury.

“I look forward to working with her to deliver the council’s priorities and fulfil our ambitions for Bury in the years ahead- from regenerating our town centres, growing our economy, tackling deprivation and health inequalities and improving people’s skills.”