Kilburn set for honour

COUNCIL chief executive Andrew Kilburn will receive a special parting gift before he leaves Oldham.

The University Centre Oldham, part of the University of Huddersfield, is to confer Mr Kilburn an Honorary Doctor of Laws.

He will receive the honorary award on July 24.

Mr Kilburn leaves his role at the council after nine years to take up the post of chief executive in the London borough of Waltham Forest in October.

The honour is in recognition of his work for Oldham and education in the borough. He already has degrees from university.

A spokesman for the university said: “Andrew led Oldham through the riots in 2001 to a position where the council is recognised nationally for its work in bringing communities together. Andrew also plays a lead role nationally in developments related to preventing violent extremism.

“He works closely with colleagues in the public, private and voluntary sectors to promote Oldham and its wider programme of regeneration.

“Andrew was closely involved in the development of the University Centre in Oldham, based on a firm belief that the presence of a university has a direct impact on the ambitions and aspirations of young people.”

Mr Kilburn was born in Leeds and graduated from Leeds University with a degree in political studies.

His local government career began in Birmingham in 1975 working with difficult and deprived young people before moving on to Leicestershire and Manchester in 1979.

He spent 11 years with Manchester City Council before moving to Oldham Council in 1990 as head of policy unit and was soon appointed assistant chief executive.

He left in 1995 to become chief executive of Redcar and Cleveland, but returned to Oldham four years later as chief executive.

Meanwhile, Mr Kilburn continued his education, graduating from the Open University in 1995 with an MBA and most recently completed his post-graduate diploma in executive coaching from Leeds Metropolitan University.