Subject to the ratification of Full Council, Stephen Baker is to be appointed joint Chief Executive of Waveney and Suffolk Coastal District Councils from April 1 2008.

Mr Baker will divide his time equally between the two authorities, paving the way for a progressive and dynamic new partnership between the two Suffolk authorities, which will seek to take specific advantage of shared strengths, issues and ambitions.


A highly experienced Chief Officer in Suffolk, he has been in post at Suffolk Coastal for nearly three years having previously been Chief Executive of East Northamptonshire Council. Prior to that, Mr Baker worked at Ipswich Borough Council for 20 years.


Cllr Mark Bee, Leader of Waveney District Council is absolutely delighted and excited about the prospect of working closely with Mr Baker.

He said: “This is an ambitious, progressive and hugely important appointment and signals the beginning of an exciting new period in the history of Waveney District Council. Stephen is an exceptional and inspirational individual with a real understanding of needs and issues in this part of Suffolk.

“We already enjoy important links with Suffolk Coastal, but with this appointment we will now work more closely, sharing knowledge, expertise, experience and a dedication to the taxpayers of Suffolk that promises a genuinely bright future for us all.

“Each authority will retain its own independence. This is no merger, but a pooling of resources to create efficient and improved service delivery and I am convinced this is the best possible news for Waveney.”


Cllr Bee went on to detail the links between the two authorities that, in his view, emphasise the common purpose of Waveney and Suffolk Coastal.

He said: “We are two authorities but with an almost identical sense of place and culture. Most importantly we are both in Suffolk, but beyond that we share views and expertise on road and rail links, coastal protection, the energy industry and a commitment to a particular brand of high quality tourism that attracts people to beautiful resorts such as Southwold and Aldeburgh.

“We share a commitment to thriving market towns and the ports of Lowestoft and Felixstowe have much in common. We also agree that unitary authorities are not necessarily the best way to deliver services.”


Currently Waveney District Council is engaged in an improvement journey which saw the appointment of Deborah Cadman on an interim basis and Cllr Bee believes that Stephen Baker will continue the good work.

He said: “Deborah has made a real difference to Waveney in the short time she has spent with us and I expect Stephen to pick up the baton. Suffolk Coastal is a successful authority and we can only benefit from the relationship. I have always been enthusiastic about partnerships in Suffolk and this is an exciting but sensible and logical approach to local government in the county.”


Cllr Bee also sought to clarify issues surrounding staffing at Waveney District Council.

He said: “Efficiency is important both to us and to taxpayers and where vacancies naturally arise, at either authority, we will consider taking advantage of each other’s strengths rather than spend on recruitment unnecessarily. We will now be sharing resources not competing for talent and this can only be a win-win situation for Waveney and Suffolk Coastal.”


The final decision will be approved by the full Councils of WDC and Suffolk Coastal on February 28th.