1. T: 01282 435424 / M: 07766137771 / E: burnleyltc@aol.com
MIKE KELLY F.C.I.O.B., C.M.I.Mgt
CAREER OVERVIEW
For over 29 years, successfully operating within a ‘results driven’ front-line operational services environment, turning
round failing services; working for national private sector companies (facilities management) and a diverse range of
local authorities covering Mets and Districts to achieve agreed political, financial and performance outcomes to agreed
deadlines.
Solid ‘hands on’ operational management experience starting out in Direct Labour Organisation’s often in challenging
commercial situations which required decisive leadership and change management experience to create a ‘can do’
culture; progressing through to senior executive level and successfully modernising staffing structures and roles;
developing dynamic project management experience to develop 'fit for purpose' service departments to meet key
political and operational policy objectives, but also generating savings/new income streams in challenging
performance driven environments.
Key Skills
• Turnaround Strategies
• Transformation Projects
• New Income/Savings
• Creative Solutions
Key Achievements
Turnaround Strategies - The Burnley DLO was on the brink of closure by government, following successive years of
losses. I led and delivered a surplus, saved some 100 jobs and the business all with the supports of employees and
trades unions to cut key costs;
Transformational Projects – Agreed political and operational priorities where it was necessary to significantly reduce
council budgets and posts – resulting in savings of approx £38m (38%) and 400 jobs taken out without any industrial
relations problems;
New Income/Savings - Invested in new ways of marketing Fostering and Adoption Services. This initiative resulted in
reducing significant Foster Agency Costs of £460,000 and the selling on of Adopters generating new income in excess
of £140,000 annually;
Creative Solutions - Developed new waste collection service, from weekly to fortnightly saving £1m and then to 3
weekly collections (first in England) saving a further £1m and increasing recycling from 28% to 57% in the process.
CAREER SUMMARY
2002 – 2015 BURY MBC
2011 – 2015 Chief Executive
2002 – 2011 Deputy Chief Executive
1995 – 2002 OLDHAM METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL
2000 – 2002 Executive Director of Operational and Leisure Services
1995 – 2000 Director of Competing Services
1994 - 1995 S.I.T.A. (GB) LIMITED
Regional Manager, Facilities Management
1989 – 1994 SEFTON METROPOLITAN COUNCIL
Director of Contract Services
1987 – 1989 BURNLEY BOROUGH COUNCIL
Construction and Works Officer
1983 – 1987 MIDDLESBROUGH BOROUGH COUNCIL
Direct Labour Organisation Manager
1965 – 1983 Early Career / Construction Industry (private sector]
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2. T: 01282 435424 / M: 07766137771 / E: burnleyltc@aol.com
CAREER SKILLS
• Leading change and motivating teams in politically sensitive areas within complex organisations over 21
years in the most senior roles in Local Government
• Building strong relationships with elected members through credible leadership and direction, encouraging
and enabling managers to motivate and inspire their teams.
• Providing and controlling the strategic direction set by the elected members to ensure staff understand and
implement the aims of the organisation
• Offering policy advice, as principal policy adviser, to elected Council members to develop workable strategies
and deliver the political objectives set by the councillors.
• Promoting, leading and developing strong partnerships across the local community to improve public
services for local people.
• Overseeing good operational management, covering financial and performance management, risk
management, people management and change management within the council.
CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS as Chief Executive
Developing / Managing / Processing Transformation
Promoted, under a Conservative Administration with a Mandate - develop a transformation strategy which would
ensure the Council remained fit for purpose following year on year revenue reductions. Within 3 months, the
Administration changed to Labour with oversight of a new strategic direction with a 3 year ‘Plan for Change’ strategy.
This was successfully implemented, taking out £38m [38%] in revenue with the loss of 400 jobs whilst still delivering
balanced budgets and managing the consequential industrial relations.
Strategic Development/Partnership Working
Established and chaired the Bury Wider Leadership Group, the Executive for the Team Bury Forum to oversee
strategic direction of growth and reform. Results - better governance and performance, through measurable targeting,
improved accountability/ownership and new functionality with key partner organisations - health, police, FE etc.
Effective Economic Initiatives
• Bury’s retail centre climbed into the top 90 nationally, with the second highest footfall outside Manchester City
Centre. Bury town centre had the largest increase (15%) in employment of all the GM town centres in 2009-2012.
• Launched a ‘Made in Bury’ Business Awards event to showcase local businesses
• Launched a ‘Backing Young Bury’ campaign to increase youth employment opportunities and structured work
experience programmes, led by Bury College. . Bury Council has been named as one of the Top 50
Apprenticeship Employers of the year by the Sunday Telegraph, only one of two local authorities.
• Developed a ‘meet n greet’ engagement programme to visit over 125 visit local businesses
• Invested in Bury market as a premier destination averaging 250,000 visitors / week
• DCLG award for fast payment of invoices to suppliers, now have a seat on a DCLG Advisory Board
Tourism, Culture - Developing Bury as a destination.
Hotel stays up 20% and tourism spend up 4% to £300m+
Education & FE Sector
• Highest performing secondary schools in the Northwest, 2012-13 and 2013-14 [source: Ofsted Secondary
Education Table as per HMCI Annual Report]
• Record year for Year 11 leavers, with 97.1% in Employment; Education or Training [source: latest Annual Activity
Survey for NEETS]
Social Care
• Adult Services offered the best care for over 65’s across the North West in 2013-14. Health performance
information data measures Council and CCG care for the elderly. Bury scored 9/10.
Recycling
October 2011 - Bury rated joint bottom for recycling at 28%, new fortnightly service launched, saved £1m
October 2014 - new fortnightly service lifted the figure to 47%
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3. T: 01282 435424 / M: 07766137771 / E: burnleyltc@aol.com
December 2014 – launch of new three weekly managed collection service [the first in England], the figure climbed to
57% August 2015), saving a further £1m by avoiding the use of landfill taxes.
Well Being -Green Flag – North West In Bloom - all Council parks have Green Flag Status, and Bury has been
awarded Purple Flag status for its Town centre [info embargoed until Late February], a first in Greater Manchester.
Won North West In Bloom for 11 consecutive years.
Events – tripled to include annual Light Night, Bury Bandamonium, Battle of the Bands, English Folk Expo and re-
launch of the Bury Carnival to attract visitors and boost the local economy.
Peer Reviews. LGA Peer Review – November 2013
“The council benefits from strong and effective leadership from a chief executive and leader who work together well as
a partnership, and from an amazing level of commitment from employees, which Bury should celebrate as being well-
above the norm in most local authorities and engage more in its planning for the future”.
“Bury is clear about its priorities as a council and these are embedded in the organisation and well-known by
employees, who are able to offer explanations of how their individual roles contribute to the overall strategic aims of
the authority”.
IIP Re-Accreditation, November 2014 (Human Resources)
“Senior leaders are held in high regard, and some are considered good role models. People generally have
confidence in the leader to ensure that the aims of the council are achieved”;
“the level of pride that people have for working for the people of Bury, clarity of messages given to the workforce
regarding the need to make efficiency savings through improvements and added value’
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & EDUCATION
1996 Fellow of Chartered Institute of Building
1986 Member of Chartered Institute of Building
1985 Member Chartered Institute of Management
1985 Certificate of Distinction - Building Production & Management
1985 BTEC in Building Law & Economics of Industry
1982 HNC Building Studies
PERSONAL DETAILS, OUTSIDE INTERESTS & ACTIVITIES
Date of Birth: 7 January 1950.
Status : Married, two children (grown up).
Driving Licence: Clean
• Playing Golf, watching Football and F1 Motor Racing, Walking, Computers, Volunteer Archivist, Music and Theatre.
Associations:
 Chairman of the ‘not for profit’ East Lancs Heritage Railway Company
 Former Company Secretary to the East Lancs Heritage Railway Trust Board
 Former Vice President of Liverpool Speakers Club
 Former Vice Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Building (Teesside Branch).
 Former Co-opted Governor (local High school)
 Served as Executive Member of Association of Public Service Excellence (Formerly ADLO)
 Former Membership Secretary Burnley Lawn Tennis Club
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