RICHARD Sheard, the shared chief executive of South Hams District and West Devon Borough Councils, has announced he is to retire at the end of March.

Richard, who took on the role three years ago, told staff and councillors that he felt it was 'the right time to hand over the reins' after more than 40 years working in local government.

Since his appointment to the dual role, Richard has been instrumental in overseeing the completion of sharing services between the two authorities — an initiative that has saved almost £6 million to date.

He has also been at the forefront of a pioneering programme to transform the way the two councils work, which breaks away from traditional local government and is more focussed on the needs of residents and communities with the support of new technology.

Richard said: 'Both councils are about to embark on an innovative new way of working which will ensure the way we deliver services to residents and communities remains at the very heart of everything we do.

'My decision has been a difficult one to make. However, it is much easier given my firm belief that we have a team of highly capable, motivated managers, with great staff, supported by councillors who will collectively lead and see the programme successfully implemented.'

Cllr Philip Sanders, leader of West Devon Borough Council, said: 'Richard has been a first class chief executive of both West Devon and South Hams Councils and has steered us through some very challenging times with the major reductions in government funding.

'It is a tribute to his leadership skills that our staff  have managed very successfully to maintain our front line services in spite of the cuts in funding.'

Cllr John Tucker, Leader of South Hams District Council, said: 'In the three years he has been with us, Richard has been ahead of the game, taking the councils forward with innovative ways of working.

'His drive and enthusiasm has been a key factor in our future transformation.'

Richard has had a long and successful career in both local government and the civil service. He joined the councils from Government Office South West where he was deputy regional director. Prior to that, he was chief executive at Salisbury District Council for nine years.

His service in local government began in 1971 when he was just 16.

He trained as a public health officer for Nottingham City Council before moving on to Mendip Council in Somerset in 1987 as environmental health manager. During his time there, he was appointed as director of housing and health before taking up the Salisbury post in 1997.

Both councils will now consider options for the best way forward to appoint to the post.