Mark Barrow named as new regeneration chief for Birmingham

Jul 7 2010 By Jonathan Walker

Birmingham has finally appointed a new director to lead regeneration and economic development in the city - after the job was left vacant for nine months.

Mark Barrow, chief executive of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, has been awarded the £140,000-a-year job after a long and troubled search.

He will replace former regeneration director Clive Dutton, who left the council last September.

Mr Barrow’s title will be Strategic Director of Development and his responsibilities include overseeing the council’s regeneration, development, planning, transportation strategy and climate change responsibilities.

He has also been tasked with finding ways to save money which could include substantial job cuts, putting Mr Barrow on the front line of battles between the city council and trade unions.

His responsibilities include “redesigning services, were necessary, to ensure they are best suited to achieving results in the current economic and political climate,” according to a council statement. He said he was relishing the chance to begin his new job.

Mr Barrow said: “I am really looking forward to playing my part in helping Birmingham establish itself as a city which is economically strong, culturally rich and physically attractive.

“The city’s leadership has developed an exciting vision for the future, and I believe my skills and experience will perfectly compliment those already in place to ensure this ambition can be translated into reality.”

Critics have accused the council of dragging its heels over recruiting a replacement to bring investment into Birmingham and cut unemployment in the city.

In the meantime, council chief executive Stephen Hughes was left to carry out the regeneration role - on top of his existing duties. But attempts to recruit a replacement for Mr Dutton sometimes appeared to descend into farce.

First, council leader Mike Whitby insisted on personally re-writing the job advertisement.

Then it emerged in March that the council had interviewed 50 people for the role, and told them all they weren’t good enough.

The appointment of Mr Barrow comes in the nick of time, as the council is set to play an even greater role in regeneration following the abolition of Regional Development Agencies.

Ministers in the new coalition Government in Westminster have announced plans to axe the giant regional quangos responsible for supporting the economy, and give many of their responsibilities to local councils instead.

Birmingham City Council hopes to lead a new economic partnership based including Solihull and the Black Country councils.

The new appointment was welcomed by Coun Whitby, who said: “Recruiting the correct person to this role was of critical importance in helping us develop our economy, quality of life, global status and role as a regional leader, both now, and far into the future. We are therefore delighted to have identified a candidate which fits the role and the team so well.

“Mark has a clear track record in delivering challenging objectives in the public sector, whilst maintaining a strategic oversight of the challenges before him. What impressed me, and the selection panel, particularly was his passion and undoubted ability.

“By combining the established strengths of our vision, international influence and civic leadership, with his pedigree for successful implementation, I am confident we have a team which will drive forward this city’s decade of delivery.”

The Government has urged councils to find ways of saving money, even if that means cutting staff.

In a speech to the Local Government Association annual conference in Bournemouth, Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles complained that many authorities employed separate planning officials and legal terms for different departments when it should be possible for people to work across departments.

Mr Barrow has been Chief Executive of  Newcastle under Lyme Borough Council since 2007. He spent six years in the early 1990s working for Birmingham City Council as a senior surveyor.

He was deputy chief executive at Great Yarmouth Borough Council before moving to Staffordshire and, previous to that, was Head of Capital and Programmes at Gloucestershire County Council.

Negotiations over his start date are ongoing, Birmingham City Council said.