Blow as finance boss leaves for new role

John Bland . . . highly regarded

OLDHAM Council’s much respected financial chief is leaving the authority to take control of a waste disposal contract worth billions of pounds.

Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority (GMWDA) has appointed John Bland to the newly created senior post of treasurer and deputy clerk, which he begins in September.

It is a blow to Oldham Council where Mr Bland, the Director of Finance and ICT, has risen up the ranks from a teenage trainee to being in charge of the coffers.

GMWDA is investing some £300 million and creating 100 jobs to revolutionise how the county tackles its waste and boost recycling rates to 50 per cent by 2020.

It has the largest and most complex waste management contract of its kind in Western Europe, with a consortium headed by preferred bidder, Viridor Waste Management and John Laing Investments, to bring about major capital investment.

Mr Bland has already been heavily involved in the Greater Manchester contract as his council post includes being treasurer of GMWDA.

Oldham Council is the lead district to GMWDA and he has combined his responsibilities since September, 2002.

GMWDA chairman Councillor Neil Swannick said: “We are very happy to be welcoming John. He is a highly valued member of the team and it will be great for us to take full advantage of his expertise on a full-time basis as the contract becomes operational.”

Oldham’s council leader, Councillor Howard Sykes, said: “John has given sterling and dedicated service to the council. By any measure his is a great success story of hard work and personal achievement having joined the council as a teenage trainee and ending up as its top financial officer.

“His challenge now is to take financial charge of the biggest waste disposal contract in Europe worth billions of pounds to help make possible Greater Manchester’s ambition to become a world centre for environmentally sustainable solutions to waste disposal.

“It is a big challenge, but given John’s ability and depth of experience, I have no doubt he will make a success of his new role and I wish him well for the future.”

Council Chief Executive Andrew Kilburn, who is also clerk to the waste disposal authority, said: “John’s appointment is an excellent move.

“His track record speaks for itself and he moves to his new job with a long list of major achievements under his belt.”

At the council, Mr Bland has helped establish the strategic service delivery partnership, several PFI schemes involving council services and the Building Schools for the Future initiative and was named Local Government Finance Director of the Year.