Bury Council has revealed the name of its new chief executive.

Geoff Little OBE, currently deputy chief executive of Manchester City Council, is set to be handed the top job at town hall.

He was chosen to be the authority’s new supremo after a meeting of its human resources panel last week.

The appointment is due to be approved at Wednesday’s annual council meeting.

Mr Little said: “I thoroughly enjoyed my time working for Bury Council back in the 1990s, in the fields of policy and research, and I’m delighted and proud to now have the privilege of serving as its chief executive.

“I know Bury well, and I know that it’s a great place with huge opportunities. I’m really looking forward to working with all members and staff of the council and all of our partners.” 

Councillor Rishi Shori, leader of Bury Council, said he was "absolutely delighted" by the appointment.

He said: “He has a track record of delivering in one of the largest local authorities in Europe, having worked for ten years alongside the likes of Sir Howard Bernstein and Sir Richard Leese. He brings a wealth of experience which he can draw on to lead improvements in council services, grow our business economy and tackle health inequalities.

“Geoff is hugely respected, he knows Bury, and I look forward to working with him to deliver the council’s priorities and fulfil our ambitions for Bury in the years ahead.”

Mr Little joined Manchester City Council in 1996 where he was head of corporate performance and then assistant chief executive with responsibility for performance improvement and human resources.

He became deputy chief executive in 2009.

Over recent years he has had responsibility for strategic development of children's, adults’ and education services, as well as supporting and implementing the devolution of health and social care in Greater Manchester.

These roles have afforded him the opportunity to work with all the council’s services and with its public, private and voluntary sector partners.

Subject to council approval on Wednesday, Mr Little will take up his new post by August. Pat Jones-Greenhalgh will continue as interim chief executive until then.

Cllr Shori added: “I want to thank Pat for the tremendous work she has done in leading our organisation through a time of major challenges and changes, and for her unswerving commitment to providing the best possible services for the people of Bury.”

Ms Jones-Greenhalgh took over as interim chief executive last year after Mike Owen resigned in June before a disciplinary hearing over child protection.

Mr Owen and former director of children’s services Mark Carraline were both suspended in February 2017 after being found to have delayed carrying out child protection procedures after Cllr Simon Carter was accused of making indecent images of children.

Carter later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a three-year community order.

A disciplinary panel found that Owen had delayed in order to protect former council leader Mike Connolly at the 2015 elections.

However he publicly denied that was the case, insisting he had “always been scrupulously politically impartial”.