Senior officer structure

Elected councillors provide the policies and the paid employees - council officers - put them into practice. The council employs about 350 staff who are responsible for a wide range of services that benefit the local community. 

The Senior Leadership Team manages the activities of the council staff and advises councillors on the potential implications of strategic decisions.

By law, senior council staff are not allowed to take part in any party political activity and are expected to advise and assist all councillors irrespective of their political affiliation.

Senior Leadership Team contacts

Robert Cottrill: Interim Chief Executive

• Provides strong strategic officer leadership which supports the delivery of the council’s priorities for its citizens, provides advice and support to councillors.
• Represents the council and promote the best interests of the borough, ensuring the council maximises opportunities to achieve the best possible outcomes for its citizens through effective statutory, public and private sector partnerships.
• Ensures high standards of governance and probity across the organisation.
• As the council's Head of Paid Service (a statutory appointment), this role is responsible for the employment and proper management of staff.

email: ChiefExecutive@hastings.gov.uk

Victoria Conheady: Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Place

Deputy Head of Paid Services and Returning Officer
Oversees:

• Housing Services
• Environment and Operations
• Regeneration Capital Programme
• Inward investment 
• Museum and Culture
• Leisure Facilities and Contract Management
• Active Hastings
• Assets
• Heritage
• Health
• Education and Skills
• Lead officer for the Foreshore Trust (Business Plan)
• Planning Policy
• Coastal and Commercial Services: 
  –    Tourism Marketing
  –    1066 Film office
  –    Cliff Railways
  –    Beach Huts
  –    Bookings (events/Sports Pitches)
  –    Seafront Services and Coast Protection
  –    Flood Risk Management
  –    Foreshore Trust Projects.

email: vconheady@hastings.gov.uk

Verna Connolly: Head of People and Business Support

• HR & Staff relations
• Payroll
• Business and Administration Support
• Facilities Management Support
• Organisational Development
• Safeguarding
• Equalities (internal).

email: vconnolly@hastings.gov.uk

Kit Wheeler: Chief Finance Officer/Section 151 officer

• Section 151 Officer (Statutory)
• Revenues (Council Tax and Benefits)
• Financial and Treasury Management Services
• Internal Audit Services (Provided by Orbis)
• Procurement, Contract management / Contract Compliance (Wealden Procurement Hub)
• IT/Cyber Security
• Systems management
• Performance & Risk Management
• Fraud (shared service)
• Insurance (shared service).

email: kit.wheeler@hastings.gov.uk

Stephen Dodson: Head of Strategic Programmes - Transformation and Local Government Reorganisation lead

• Strategic Policy and Programme Office – Local Government Reorganisation, Devolution and Transformation
• Development Management
• Building Control and dangerous structures.

email: sdodson@hastings.gov.uk

Natasha Tewkesbury: Head of Community and Regulatory Services

• Environmental Health & Licensing
• Community Contact Centre
• Enforcement Services
• Community Safety
• Communications
• Electoral Services
• Emergency Planning
• Business Continuity.

email: ntewkesbury@hastings.gov.uk

Cameron Morley: Head of Environment and Operations

• Waste and Recycling Collections (responsible for HBC & RDC as shared service)
• Public Convenience Management and Cleaning
• Operational Services (DSO)
  -    Street & Beach Cleansing
  -    Grounds Maintenance
  -    Building Cleaning
  -    Fleet Management
• Parks and Open Spaces Management
• Cemetery and Crematorium
• Natural Environment and Biodiversity Strategies
• Non-commercial Land management
• Climate Change.

email: cmorley@hastings.gov.uk

Amy Terry: Property and Commercial Assets Manager

• Land and Property commercialisation strategy
• Building Surveyors
• HBC owned property management
• Employment Land management

email: aterry@hastings.gov.uk  

Chris Hancock: Head of Housing

• Homelessness Services
• Housing Renewal
• Housing Strategy
• Rough Sleepers Initiative (countywide project)
• Hastings Borough Council residential property management
• Housing Company
• Hastings Borough Council Housing Development Services

email: chris.hancock@hastings.gov.uk

Kate Slattery - Head of Legal

• Legal Services
• Data Protection
• Corporate Governance
• Advice to Councillors

Coral Harding - Democratic Services

• Monitoring Officer (statutory)
• Democratic Services

email: democraticservices@hastings.gov.uk