A permanent chief executive at Bromley Council is set to be appointed as the authority moves into a period that requires “strong stable leadership”.

It comes as the council plans a leadership shake up to save cash towards an accumulative budget gap by 2023.

Ade Adetosoye took over as interim chief executive last year following the resignation of long-serving boss Doug Patterson.

Mr Adetosoye oversaw major improvements to the council’s children’s services following a disappointing Ofsted inspection in 2016.

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The interim boss is now set to be signed off to take on the role permanently at a full council next week.

Chief executives are the most powerful officers in a council, and work alongside the elected members to shape the direction of the authority’s work and oversee operations.

According to a new report, the council is moving into a “challenging period” that requires stable leadership.

The council is preparing a “Transforming Bromley” strategy, and key decision makers are putting their backing to Mr Adetosoye to take the reins.

Officers said: “It is crucial that Mr Ade Adetosoye OBE maintains the lead and focus on delivering transformation at pace while also maintaining and ensuring the quality of ‘business as usual’ activities.

“The transformation challenge requires exemplary strategic leadership from someone who understands the organisation design and culture and is able to forge quick, strong relationships with Members, staff and their representatives and key partners.

“Mr Ade Adetosoye OBE offers continuity and stability at a time of significant change. He has created belief and confidence with the new strategic vision ‘Transforming Bromley’”.

The vision being developed, set to be approved by top councillors on Wednesday night, is to combat a £30m budget gap that takes the council up to 2023.

A further shake up at the council set to be signed off will see jobs cut from the leadership structure, which bosses say will save £1.2m.

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Council documents explain: “The new structure will be achieved by re-designation of some job titles and some realignment of reporting lines. It is also proposed that some posts will be deleted.

“In total it is expected that this realignment of the structure will achieve recurring savings totalling £1.25 million per annum.”

According to officers, there is a lack of good candidates in the capital willing to take on leadership roles at local councils.

“Having demonstrated his suitability for the role and being aware of the impact of the leadership realignment report, it is proposed that the Chief Executive appointment be made exclusively from within the organisation,” officers said.

Councils say they are experiencing “unprecedented financial uncertainty” nationally, with many lobbying for more cash from central government.

Population growth and extra demand on council services have pushed many budgets to breaking point.

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