South Tyneside Council has appointed a new corporate director to manage council housing, roads and waste services. The local authority initiated a search for a new ‘director of community operations’ for the borough last year, offering a salary of £124,558.
The newly-established role primarily focuses on housing management, but also includes oversight of waste services, highways, street scene, grounds maintenance and more. The creation of this role is tied to the council’s decision to bring the management of housing services back in-house, “covering 17,000 homes”, with the aim of the new role being to “open new opportunities to integrate services for residents”.
The senior council officer will be expected to “lead the transformation of [the council’s] community operations, including a strategic review of waste management and a cultural shift in housing services following the transfer of 650 staff”. In November 2024, Gary Kirsop, the former director of operations at South Tyneside Homes, was confirmed as the post holder.
Mr Kirsop started his career as an apprentice bricklayer at South Tyneside Council and brings over three decades of experience from South Tyneside Homes and the council. The community operations directorate was established in the summer of 2024, ahead of the transition of housing services and several hundred staff back into the council.
Mr Kirsop, who has been serving as the ‘head of community operations’ in a secondment role since July 2024, has been instrumental in establishing the new directorate and aiding the council’s waste services team to resume normal service following industrial action. His new role, which he assumed on November 28, 2024, encompasses roads and infrastructure, parking restrictions, management of the council’s vehicle fleet, housing and property services, bereavement services, street and beach cleaning, community area forums and more.
Upon his appointment, Mr Kirsop said: “I’m incredibly honoured to be appointed as the director of community operations within South Tyneside Council and I’m committed to working tirelessly to enhance the quality of life for all our residents. I’m passionate about our services, sense of unity and collaboration. My goal is to ensure that our teams are inclusive, efficient, and responsive to the diverse voices within South Tyneside.”
“I look forward to working alongside our dedicated teams, colleagues, members and community partners across South Tyneside.” Mr Kirsop is set to join the council’s corporate leadership team, reporting directly to the chief executive. His role will involve innovating and introducing new ways of working to ensure that services remain sustainable and offer value.
A statement released to councillors last year regarding his appointment read: “Gary has led the growth of the involvement and engagement work at the former South Tyneside Homes and will bring these skills and knowledge into the role of director of community operations to build on the work the council is doing with all residents.”
For further details about the position, individuals are encouraged to visit South Tyneside Council’s website.
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