Troubled Doncaster council has announced its new senior team, including its new director of finance and corporate services.

The council has cut the top team from six directors to four, with an additional director to lead the council through its change management for the next two years.

Simon Wiles, previously corporate services director at Partnerships for Schools, has been hired to the post of director of finance and corporate services, a post signed of by the secretary of state as part of the Government’s intervention strategy.

Mr Wiles was previously director of finance and deputy chief executive at City of York Council. The council said his salary was ‘at the bottom of the CO1 scale’ of £112,695-£128,063.

Simon Wiles: ‘Delighted’ to be joining Doncaster.’

The council will also cut the number of assistant directors from 21 to 14. Overall the changes to the management team will save the council £1.1m.

The directors are:

• Director of Adults and Communities - Joan Beck (formally director of Adult Services)
• Director of Children’s Services – Chris Pratt
• Director of Regeneration and Environment – Peter Dale (formally Director of Development)
• Director of Finance and Corporate Services – Simon Wiles (new appointment)
• Director of Change (temporary role for two years) – Kay Leigh (formally director of People and Performance Improvement).

Interim chief executive Rob Vincent, said: ‘I believe that this new streamlined team of directors at Doncaster Council, led by the chief executive and supported by capable officers, has the talent and ability to see the council through government intervention and the loss of significant budget.’

‘I believe Simon will be an excellent addition to our senior management team and make an immediate impact in this area. As the appointment is one covered by Government intervention in Doncaster it has been confirmed by the Secretary of State.’

Mr Wiles said he was ‘delighted’ to be joining the council.

‘The public sector is facing perhaps the biggest financial challenge it has ever seen and while I have no illusions that there will be some difficult decisions to be made I can see that there is real commitment to improving the council and moving Doncaster forward.’