New chief executive officially approved for South Tyneside Council

The appointment of a new chief executive for South Tyneside Council has been formally approved by councillors.
Jonathan Tew has been appointed as chief executive of South Tyneside Council and is expected to start the role later this year.Jonathan Tew has been appointed as chief executive of South Tyneside Council and is expected to start the role later this year.
Jonathan Tew has been appointed as chief executive of South Tyneside Council and is expected to start the role later this year.

The top officer role is non-political and covers the strategic leadership of South Tyneside Council’s corporate team and effective oversight of council services.

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In recent months, some of the chief executive’s core duties have been split between other council officers while a recruitment process took place to fill the vacant position.

At South Tyneside Council’s annual meeting earlier this week, councillors formally approved a recommendation to appoint Jonathan Tew as chief executive.

Mr Tew, currently assistant chief executive at Birmingham City Council, is expected to join South Tyneside Council in late Summer 2021 following his notice period with his current employer.

The recommendation for his appointment was presented by council leader Tracey Dixon at the authority’s annual meeting on May 18.

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Cllr Dixon said: “Following a meeting of the council’s Senior Officer Appointments Sub-Committee and a formal recruitment process involving elected members, senior officers, partners and external experts, I’m delighted to propose that Jonathan Tew is appointed to the role of chief executive and head of paid service.

“Jonathan is currently the assistant chief executive of Birmingham City Council and has worked at a senior level in local authorities across the North West, the West Midlands and the North East.

“Subject to formal ratification by full council this evening, Jonathan is expected to join the council no later than September 1, 2021 following his notice period with his current employer.”

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It reads: “An experienced public servant, in his senior role at Birmingham City Council, Jonathan leads on public health; community safety; policy development, performance and insight; strategic communications; partnership working and improvement across the complex range of services provided to over a million residents.

“Prior to that, Jonathan was an Associate Director at KPMG LLP’s public sector and health consulting practice, advising senior politicians, chief executives and statutory directors across the UK public sector.

“Jonathan has performed a range of policy, performance, community development and programme management roles in local authorities in County Durham, Lancashire and Stoke-on-Trent.

“He also has extensive experience of working closely with Government departments and supporting Home Office and CLG national programmes with an emphasis on counter-terrorism, social cohesion and public service reform.”

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In recent months, an advert for the chief executive role was posted by the council looking for an “ambitious and visionary leader to join South Tyneside and really make their mark.”

The salary for the role was also listed as “up to £166,000.”

The advert reads: “The chief executive will be responsible for shaping and directing the delivery of the council’s futures programme, which includes significant economic and regeneration projects, further integration of local health and social care services and South Tyneside’s successful economic, social and environmental recovery post Covid-19 and EU Exit.

“South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council certainly punches above its weight when it comes to ambition – and the council is looking for an inclusive, dynamic and experienced senior leader to lead the council through its next phase of delivery for its 155,000 residents.”

For more information on the chief executive role in South Tyneside, visit: https://campaigns.southtyneside.gov.uk/chief-executive

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