The Chief Executive of Cardiff Council, Byron Davies, today has announced his decision to retire from the Council after 17 years in the post.
Mr Davies, 62, has been in public service for 40 years, 30 of which have been spent serving the capital city of Wales.
The decision comes as Cardiff is about to enter a new decade of economic, social and environmental regeneration and Mr Davies believes the time is now right to retire to allow a new Chief Executive to help see through these long-term aspirations.
He said: “I have now been in public service for almost 40 years but I cannot continue forever. The recent completion of St David’s represents a culmination of a regeneration process that has successfully secured Cardiff’s place as a leading UK and European capital city. It follows on the momentum created by the regeneration of other parts of the city centre and of course Cardiff Bay.
“Looking forward, at this stage of my career, time does not allow me to take the Council through the next decade and it is therefore right for me to hand over the baton to the next generation of officers who I know can take Cardiff to a new level and continue the city’s outstanding success.”
Mr Davies is one of the longest-serving Chief Executives in local government and his contribution has spanned almost two decades of sustained regeneration in Cardiff, including the city centre and the development of Cardiff Bay.
He was first appointed as the Chief Executive of South Glamorgan in 1992 before becoming the first Chief Executive of the new Cardiff unitary authority in 1995.
He not only helped to set up the new Cardiff unitary authority but also oversaw the transfer of powers from Cardiff Bay Development Corporation to Cardiff and, most recently, the establishment of a new Local Service Board for Cardiff to provide seamless services to the people of Cardiff.
He added: “During my time as Chief Executive it has been my privilege to work with many talented and committed people, including politicians of all parties, staff and trade unions. The next generation of officers in Cardiff are second to none and I am certain that they are ready and capable of taking the Council agenda forward into the next decade.”
In his time as Chief Executive Mr Davies has also been able to promote Cardiff on a global stage after first being elected President of Solace (Society of Local Authority Chief Executives in the United Kingdom) in 2008 before going on to be President of UDiTE (Federation of Local Authority Chief Executives in Europe) in 2009.
The Leader of Cardiff Council, Rodney Berman, paid tribute to the contribution that Mr Davies has made to Cardiff for more than 30 years.
He said: “I wish to thank Byron for his absolute commitment over the years to Cardiff and its residents. He can look back with pride at the way the city has been transformed during his time at its helm, in the clear knowledge of the significant role that he has personally played in driving that transformation forward.
”Byron has also taken the professional status of local government in Cardiff to a new level recognised across the UK, Europe and internationally, and has repeatedly and consistently demonstrated an unstinting dedication to public service throughout.
“We have worked constructively together since 2004, during which time we have seen through a number of major projects and important improvements in service delivery. I am confident that the sound foundations Byron has worked to establish with us, provide a firm platform for maintaining Cardiff’s investment momentum, transforming public services, developing excellent public servants and addressing the budgetary challenges which will allow us to move forward with confidence.”
