Council departments

Since May 2002 the council has been led by a directly elected Liberal Democract Mayor, Dorothy Thornhill, now in her third term of office following the town's third mayoral election in May 2010.  

Town Hall

How we are structured

The council's Executive Board is made up of:

  • Managing Director - Manny Lewis
  • Two Executive Directors - Cate Hall and Tricia Taylor

They are accountable for officer decisions and performance, and are strategic in focus.  The Board manages the political interface with senior elected Members and communicates political priorities to the Leadership Team.  They make final decisions where there is no consensus in the Leadership Team.

The Leadership Team is made up of the Managing Director, and two Executive Directors plus Heads of Services for:

 

Service Head Email
Community Services Lesley Palumbo community@watford.gov.uk
Environmental Services Alan Gough environmentalservices@watford.gov.uk
Finance Alan Power finance@watford.gov.uk
Human Resources Terry Baldwin hr@watford.gov.uk
Information, Communication & Technology Avni Patel ict@watford.gov.uk  
Legal & Property Services Carol Chen legalanddemocratic@watford.gov.uk
Planning & Development Jane Custance planninganddevelopment@watford.gov.uk
Revenues & Benefits Phil Adlard revenuesandbenefits@watford.gov.uk

 

The Leadership Team is a decision making forum for key strategies (before they go to Cabinet) and key operational issues - particularly where more than one Service needs an input.  It is a forum to foster corporate working, innovation, sharing ideas and learning.  The team is a reporting point for task group reports and a vehicle for planning and coordination.  They also oversee performance management of the Council, including tracking of major projects and the corporate work programme.

The Mayor and her Cabinet are responsible for the following areas:

 

Cabinet member Portfolio
Mayor Dorothy Thornhill

Responsibilities: Community Services. Cross cutting themes include: Major projects, partnerships, health, community safety, equalities and corporate performance

Councillor Derek Scudder Responsibilities: Deputy Mayor, Environmental Services
Cross cutting theme: Sustainability 
Councillor Iain Sharpe Responsibilities: Planning and Legal & Property
Cross cutting theme: Transport
Councillor Andy Wylie Responsibilities: Finance and Shared Services with Three Rivers District Council (ICT, HR, Finance Revenues and Benefits)
Cross cutting theme: Value for money

 

 

In this section

For more information

strategicservices@watford.gov.uk

How do you rate this information / service?