AN Interim chief executive has been appointed by Sedgemoor District Council following the retirement of Kerry Rickards.

Allison Griffin, the new interim chief executive, has worked for SDC since 1991 holding the posts of head of finance and corporate director.
The appointment comes after Kerry Rickards, former chief executive of SDC announced his retirement last month after working for the council for 17 years.

Cllr Duncan McGinty, leader of SDC paid tribute to Mr Rickards at a full council meeting last Wednesday.

“Sedgemoor has blossomed under Kerry’s leadership and Sedgemoor has firmly been put on the map, not only regionally, nationally and internationally” he said.

“He was never fazed at any disaster that came Sedgemoor’s way - and there have been many over the past 17 years.

“He has overseen the downsizing of the organisation whilst maintaining services to Sedgemoor residents.

“He is the longest service chief executive among Somerset local authorities and we are sad to see him go, but wish him a long and happy retirement.”
Cllr Mick Lerry, Sedgemoor Labour leader said: “We need to recognise what people put into public service and Kerry has contributed hugely to local government over the past 38 years.

Cllr Lorna Corke, Sedgemoor UKIP leader said: “Kerry made me feel very welcome as a new councillor. I always felt that Sedgemoor had a quiet presence that is very reassuring and this is down to Kerry and the staff.”

The new interim chief executive Allison Griffin is an accountant by profession, having grown up and studied in Sedgemoor, graduating from the University of the West of England.

Mrs Griffin has almost 30 years’ experience in Local Government having trained with Somerset County Council, and joining Sedgemoor District Council in 1991 as a newly qualified accountant. 

Since that time she has managed a wide range of district council services including holding the position of director of finance for a number of years.

More recently she has been responsible for customer and community services, community safety, safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and housing and homelessness. 

This has included the recent development of new social housing by the District Council for the first time in over 30 years.

Mrs Griffin has also taken a lead role in a number of major incidents in the District including the reconstruction of the West Quay Wall on behalf of Sedgemoor after its collapse in 2011, and the recovery work following the terrible floods of 2014.