The former chief executive of Bucks County Council has been announced as the head of the new Buckinghamshire Council. 

Rachael Shimmin has today been announced as the chief executive of the new unitary authority - which will replace all the current county and district councils on April 1 next year. 

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Rachael will lead the new £1 billion council, which will be the second largest non-metropolitan unitary in England, and will provide all of the current county and district councils’ services.

The appointment follows a national search to find the best candidate to lead the employees of the new council and a "thorough recruitment process" which started in early June. 

Rachael will now formally take up the position of chief executive almost three years since her arrival at Bucks County Council as the chief executive.

She will be working with the 202 elected members on the shadow authority and the decision-making shadow executive, who will oversee the creation of the new council. 

Rachael said: “Setting up the new Buckinghamshire Council is a once-in-a-career opportunity.

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"The communities of Buckinghamshire deserve the best possible public services and I am excited to be heading up the organisation that will deliver them.

"While the task ahead of us shouldn’t be underestimated, the programme to create the new council is well established and has a clear focus on what is required. 

"I am determined to create an organisation that will lead the way in providing excellent services.”

After the transition to the new Buckinghamshire Council is complete, the focus of the new council will be to improve services for communities by "bringing functions together as one council to work more efficiently".

Leader of the shadow executive, Cllr Martin Tett, said: “Creating the new Buckinghamshire Council is a massive challenge but I know Rachael is the person who will ensure it happens and I look forward to working with them.

"We have the opportunity here to improve services and create simpler, more efficient and effective local government that will deliver for all of our communities.”