Wrexham Council is bidding farewell to its longest serving chief officer, Dave Hylands, who retires from his post of Chief Information Systems Officer at the end of the month.
Dave has worked in local government since 1970 when he began working as a machine accountant with Calne and Chippenham Rural District Council. During the 70’s he worked with Knowsley Metropolitan Council before moving to Wrexham Maelor in 1984 as Chief Computer Services Officer.
Dave’s interest in computing and information technology began in the late 60’s when as a talented mathematician he began studying A-levels in pure and applied maths and statistics. During this time he was one of only a handful of students nationally who were asked if they wanted to sit a new A-level which was one of the first ever courses in the new field of computing.
Throughout his time in Wrexham Dave has overseen some dramatic changes in the use of IT not only in the Council but also in the county borough’s schools. When he started there were a handful of computer users accessing about a dozen applications, today there are well over 2,500 corporate users accessing multiple business applications via PC’s. The massive changes included the shift from mainframe to PC server based computing and the take-on of a central ICT support service for schools in 1998 which continues to provide support to thousands of teachers and pupils.
Dave has always kept his eye on computer security and has insisted that the authority maintains a strict security protocol to keep young people in the county’s schools safe in their use of the web.
Dave’s other achievements whilst with the authority include managing the introduction and development of the extensive CCTV coverage that has helped reduce crime and disorder within the town centre and across the county borough.
He can also take credit for Wrexham’s award winning website, www.wrexham.gov.uk, which quickly became the model of good practice when it was first launched in 2000.
His most recent achievement came with the opening of Contact Wrexham in the town centre where residents can go to pay bills, claim Housing Benefits and blue badge passes amongst many other services. Contact Wrexham is also home to the Pride in Your Streets phone line 298989 which since launched has seen a huge improvement in the way residents can report environmental issues such as fly tipping, highway problems, dog fouling or litter.
Cllr Aled Roberts, Leader of the Council, said:
“Dave has many achievements to his credit and he can be proud that he leaves Wrexham Council with an up to date and secure platform from which we can continue to build. He has certainly brought the county borough into the 21st century and I wish him well for his future and know he will make the most of every opportunity that comes his way.”
A family man, Dave is looking forward to spending more time with his wife, Carol, of 35 years, their daughters, Kim and Nicky and their grandchildren. He plans putting in the miles by travelling and also intends to keep busy with his favourite hobbies of Photography, model making and genealogy and hopes to write up his family history which he has studied for over 30 years.
Dave himself said:
“I have been very fortunate and privileged to have enjoyed working for over 40 years within local government and in ICT. I am proud to have worked alongside some of the most dedicated staff, peers and councillors who have always been supportive of the sometimes difficult challenges that we have had to overcome. I would like to thank everyone for their kind wishes of support for my future retirement.”
