City of York Council's first deputy chief executive, Laura McGillivray, is starting the job next week - returning to the city where she was brought up.

Laura is joining the council on Monday (February 3) from Dacorum Borough Council in Hertfordshire, where she is currently the strategic director of Community Services.

Her new job is a new post created as part of a review of the council's Chief Executive's department.

After completing a degree in Sociology at Liverpool University, Laura held posts in Liverpool, London and Milton Keynes, in public, private and voluntary sectors. Her work has spanned direct service management, policy development, community work and business analysis.

David Atkinson, chief executive of City of York Council, said, "In addition to deputising for me, Laura will assume immediate responsibility for guiding the work of 'Without Walls', the newly created strategic partnership for York, in developing a vision for York and a citywide strategy to implement it, which are both rooted in widespread community consultation and support.

"One of Laura's first main jobs will be to take overall charge of the expert team responsible for the conduct of May's city-wide local elections."

Laura is returning to the city where she has strong ties, having been brought up here and educated at Queen Anne's School for Girls. She is married with two daughters, one of whom is at university and the other soon to sit her GCSEs.

Laura McGillivray said; "I am delighted to be returning to York. It is a city with a great future and I am happy to play a part in it."

The deputy chief executive's responsibilities will include electoral, democratic and legal services, partnerships and community planning and marketing and communications.

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Notes for Editors:

Without Walls is the name of York's 'Local Strategic Partnership'. The Local Government Act 2000 places a duty on Local Authorities to prepare a 'Community Strategy' and most authorities are setting up Local Strategic Partnerships to prepare the strategy.

The form of these partnerships varied but the overall aim is to create a shared vision for the community based on what the community wants.