CHESHIRE West and Chester Council’s Staffing committee has recommended the appointment of Gerald Meehan as the authority’s new chief executive.

The recommendation will be voted on by members at full council, who will take the final decision on May 19.

Gerald will take up the role in July following the departure of the current chief executive Steve Robinson, who has held the post since the council’s inception.

Gerald has held the role of joint strategic director of Children’s Services with Cheshire West and Chester and Halton councils - the first shared directorship of its kind in England - since 2011.

Council Leader Samantha Dixon said: “I warmly welcome the proposed appointment of Gerald as Steve Robinson’s successor. We are very fortunate to have interviewed such a wealth of talent from within our own ranks.

“Gerald has demonstrated his suitability for this important leadership role and I believe his experience makes him an exceptional choice to take the council forward in the next stage of its journey. The authority has a budgeted four-year plan with clear objectives that we want to deliver.

“Gerald brings an excellent set of achievements and some much-needed stability in an ever-changing environment.”

Opposition Leader Mike Jones said: “I congratulate Gerald on his proposed appointment. He has demonstrated a very strong track record within the council, having created a Children’s Service that is one of the best in the country.

“Having worked across both Halton and Cheshire West and Chester councils, he has a wide range of experience and brings a whole-council approach.

“We look forward to working with him to build on the tremendous success of the last eight years, from creating a new council to being recognised as the best achieving council in 2015.”

Gerald said: “It is a privilege to be recommended chief executive. I will do everything I can to ensure that the council lives up to the high expectations that our residents rightly have of us.

“I will build on the great foundations laid by Steve Robinson, the leadership team and the wider council.

“I intend to further strengthen our joint working with our partners in the public and charitable sector to both improve the quality of the services we deliver and to further reduce costs.

“My priority will be to focus on the outcomes we need to achieve for the people of Cheshire West and Chester.”

Steve Robinson announced earlier this year that he was to stand down in July following 41 years of local government service.