RICHARD WILLS BECOMES CSS PRESIDENT

Richard Wills has today (15 June 2007) taken over as President of CSS, which represents local authority strategic directors handling transport, waste management, environment, planning, energy and economic development issues

He succeeded Warwickshire’s John Deegan at the CSS AGM, when members gave their seal of approval to a structural organisation designed to achieve the right balance between strategic influence and technical and professional excellence. While standing main committees will provide a source of expertise and a focus for communication, working groups and task groups will enable specific work programmes to be completed quickly and effectively.

Director for Development with Lincolnshire County Council, Mr Wills said in his acceptance speech that he intended to concentrate on three key themes during his year of office:

further boosting the effectiveness of communication with members, the media and key influencers
maintaining close working partnerships with the Local Government Association and with other bodies that benefit from CSS advisory support
continuing CSS’s role in providing leadership and expertise in the key services with which its members are involved.

A chartered civil engineer, Mr Wills spent 26 years with Cornwall County Council, where he started as an 18-year-old trainee and progressed to Assistant County Surveyor. He has also been Honorary Secretary and Treasurer of CSS for three years.

“It is a great honour to be President of CSS, which is so widely respected within local and central government as well as amongst our private sector partners,” he said. “One of the great strengths of CSS is that it can call upon committee chairmen who are each leaders in their fields and I am particularly looking forward to working with them.

Previously known as the County Surveyors’ Society, CSS has re-branded itself over recent months to recognise that an increasing number of its members come from metropolitan, unitary and city authorities and from Transport for London. It also has long standing members from the Northern Ireland Roads Service.

Paying tribute to John Deegan, Mr Wills said: “John had a clear vision that he wanted to attract new members and I have fully supported his ambitions in that respect. I think CSS will be able to further broaden its appeal to embrace even more leading professionals working in local government.”

ends

Media contacts

Barrie Hedges, Daybreak Communications office 0845 644 3845; mobile 07899 923756; barrie.hedges@daybreakcomm.co.uk

Notes to editors

CSS represents local authority chief officers who manage some of the most pressing issues facing the UK today. Membership is drawn from all four corners of the United Kingdom with members responsible for three-quarters of the road network, two thirds of the land area and just under half of the population of England and Wales.
While roads have always been a priority for CSS members, their remit has broadened considerably. Operating at the strategic tier of local government, they are closely involved in crucial transport, waste management, environment, planning, energy and economic development issues.
The organisation was behind the original creation of the motorway network in the UK. Today, CSS is a centre of technical expertise with its members ensuring that much of the nation’s vital infrastructure is managed, maintained and constantly improved.