SOUTH Somerset District Council has officially confirmed Alex Parmley as the authority’s new chief executive.

Cllr Ric Pallister, leader of South Somerset District Council said: “I am delighted to welcome Alex to South Somerset. I know he is fully committed to the future of the district and I and all the members are looking forward to working with him.

“Alex has experience of both modernising local government and rising to the financial challenge that government has imposed on all councils.

"He has all the attributes we need to head up a council committed to cutting costs without cutting any of the services that the public both need and value.”

Mr Parmley is currently a corporate director at Eastleigh Borough Council.

He will officially commence his role on Monday, October 3. He said: “I am very pleased and excited to be offered this opportunity and look forward to my first official day in the new role at South Somerset District Council.

"I am keen to seek to engage the whole organisation in helping shape and steer the changes that lie ahead so that we arrive at the best solution for the organisation and most importantly, the people of south Somerset.”