Herefordshire is the first place in the country to have a single chief executive running both the council and the primary care trust.

Herefordshire Council voted last week (Friday 2 November) to confirm the appointment of Chris Bull, who is currently deputy chief executive of Southwark Council in London. He will also fulfil the role of chief executive of Herefordshire Primary Care Trust.

Chris Bull will lead an enhanced partnership designed to improve public services, achieve better value for money and ensure that Herefordshire continues to make decisions on how local public services are delivered.

Chris Bull was joint chief executive of Southwark Primary Care Trust and strategic director of social services with Southwark Council for five years, a role in which he led one of the largest primary care trusts in London with a budget of £400 million, alongside a council social care budget of £120 million.

He achieved excellent performance across health and social care, delivering better services for local people.

Last year he acted as Southwark Council’s interim chief executive and is a member of the London Health Commission, which leads health improvement across the capital.

Originally from the West Midlands, Chris Bull has family in Worcestershire. He is able to start work as chief executive for Herefordshire Council and Herefordshire Primary Care Trust before the end of the calendar year.

Final stage selection involving four short-listed candidates took place in Herefordshire in September by a panel that included all council political leaders and the chairman and non-executive directors of the primary care trust.

The appointment was recommended to be ratified by all elected members of the council at today’s full council meeting, in accordance with the council’s constitution.