The council is set to appoint a new Chief Executive on Friday (December 14).

Susan Parsonage, who is currently leader of Lancaster City Council, will take over from acting Chief Executive Heather Thwaites in March 2019, becoming the council’s first permanent CEO since Andy Couldrick left in 2017.

Chairman of the Personnel Board Alistair Auty told the News: “Susan was a really strong candidate – I’m really pleased that we have appointed her.

“Interim CEOs are all well and good but staff need that stability to take the council forward.

“What shone through for Susan was that she does has a commercial strategy, great leadership skills, and a good vision for what she wants to see Wokingham Borough Council achieve.

“That’s what we feel the council needed the most.

“She shares that there are great opportunities in Wokingham and we need to make sure we deliver really strong services for residents.”

Ms Parsonage said: "I am really delighted to have been appointed to this role. Wokingham Borough Council has already achieved a great deal in terms of transformation and at the same time is very ambitious for the borough and its communities.  I look forward to working with the staff and councillors to deliver on those ambitions for the future.”

The interview process saw six candidates meet with local stakeholders including staff members, councillors and incoming council leader Cllr Julian McGhee-Sumner.

Cllr Auty added that the appointment process has been ongoing for “a number of months”.

A report produced for the council highlighted that Ms Parsonage “has significant experience obtained in senior leadership roles within Local Government over the past 20 years.”

It continued: “In her current role at Lancaster City, she leads 750 employees across a district with a population of 143,000, and a £100m gross general expenditure budget.

“She has experience of working in large authorities, her previous role was in Ealing as Director of Safer Communities and Housing, where she was a director for 8 years.

“Susan has experience of developing and driving district-wide strategic change and development programmes. Whilst at Lancaster City, she has led the redesign of the city centre’s multi-million regeneration project, also worked with partners to bring the UK’s 2nd Eden project to Morecambe Bay; and set the Council’s new ambitious four-year plan. Collaboration and partnership working underpins her work.”

Upon her departure from the authority, Ms Parsonage said: “During my time at Lancaster we have built a strong foundation for future growth, including strengthening our team, refocusing our services, evolving our marketing, improving our operations, reducing our costs and forging many new partnerships.”

Ms Parsonage’s appointment is expected to be confirmed by the council on Friday, December 14.