Nottingham City Council’s new Chief Executive has started work at the authority after being appointed to one of the city’s most important jobs back in May.
Mel Barrett joins the council with a successful track record in managing large-scale customer-facing services and delivering substantial regeneration and development projects, most recently at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council in Hampshire where he was also Chief Executive.
Prior to joining Basingstoke and Deane, Mel was Executive Director of Housing and Regeneration at the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, where he worked to secure the HS2 Crossrail interchange station in the borough, bringing significant investment. Before that he was Oxford City Council’s Executive Director for City Regeneration and Director of the London Development Agency.
Although he has spent the last 25 years working in London and the South East, Mel has roots in the Midlands. He was born in Coventry to Windrush generation parents and studied at Leicester De Montfort University.
Speaking about his new role, he said: “I’m really pleased to be taking up such an important role at one of the country’s Core Cities. Nottingham is an ambitious, forward thinking, diverse and inclusive city with a proud history.”
“There are several things I particularly care about. I am passionate about improving life chances, facilitating social progress and delivering tangible change on the ground.
“The last few months, with council services at the forefront of the response to Covid-19, have demonstrated how important our workforce is in protecting and supporting our most vulnerable.
“Covid-19 has also had a major impact on the local economy, as well the council’s finances, so planning for the future and delivering sustainable growth is vital to help make Nottingham a world class city for everyone.”
City Council Leader, Councillor David Mellen, said “I am delighted to welcome Mel to Nottingham and the City Council. The experience and expertise he brings will help us ensure we can continue to provide essential services to the people of Nottingham during what is an extremely difficult time for the city and the country as a whole with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.”