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Council bids farewell to chief executive
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Renfrewshire Council has bid farewell to the chief executive who has led the authority since it was set up in 1996.
Tom Scholes is retiring after 39 years local government service with Lanark County Council, Strathclyde Regional Council and Renfrewshire Council. He was awarded an OBE in 2002 for services to local government.
Tom Scholes is retiring after 39 years local government service with Lanark County Council, Strathclyde Regional Council and Renfrewshire Council. He was awarded an OBE in 2002 for services to local government.
Tom, 57, has overseen several notable achievements by Renfrewshire Council where the Council has been praised by independent watchdogs. Those include:
- an excellent report by HMIE (Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education) on the Council’s education and leisure services
- one of the most successful best value audits by the Accounts Commission of any council in Scotland
- many awards for excellent customer service including 42 Charter Marks - the most awarded to any local authority in Scotland.
“Throughout the past decade he has driven forward improvements in standards of service across the Council and helped take forward major investment in PPP schools and new residential homes for the elderly. It’s entirely fitting that in the last few weeks of his career, Tom’s own chief executive’s department has been awarded a Charter Mark for the quality of its service.
“On behalf of everyone at the Council, I wish Tom a long and happy retirement”.
Tom Scholes said: “It has been a privilege and a pleasure to have been the chief executive of Renfrewshire Council for the past 11 ½ years and to work with such a very professional and dedicated group of people in the Council. I am happy that I leave the future direction of the Council in the good hands of David Martin, my successor, and I wish him every success in the future”.
Having begun his local authority career in 1967 as a trainee accountant, Tom Scholes was first in Scotland and second in the UK in his professional exams. He then worked in a number of senior finance posts with Strathclyde Regional Council before becoming chief executive of Renfrewshire Council in 1995 - the “shadow year” before new councils were established in Scotland following local government reorganisation.
Tom has lived in Paisley with his wife Irene for more than 20 years but still considers himself to be only a trainee Buddie.
The incoming chief executive of Renfrewshire Council is David Martin, 46. He was formerly strategic manager for support services and an assistant chief executive with Fife Council.
The incoming chief executive of Renfrewshire Council is David Martin, 46. He was formerly strategic manager for support services and an assistant chief executive with Fife Council.
Press Release: Tuesday 10 October 2006
