DUDLEY Council today (Monday) welcomed its new chief executive following the retirement of John Polychronakis.

Mr Polychronakis said a fond farewell to colleagues at a party last Thursday (January 15) after 40 years working in local government – and Sarah Norman, Dudley’s new boss, stepped into her new role today.

Ms Norman, from Birmingham, announced on Twitter that she was “very pleased” to be starting her new £165,000 a year top job with Dudley Council and she added: “Lots to do but great opportunities.”

She added: "We all know these are extremely challenging times for local government but it is these challenges that makes the job so exciting.

"I am passionate about improving public services so I am looking forward to building on what Dudley Council already has to help make services work for the people who need them most.”

Mum to two teenaged sons and a keen marathon and cross country runner, Ms Norman has 30 years of public service experience and her previous role was strategic director for community at Wolverhampton City Council.

One of her key roles will be to build on the proposals to create a combined authority in the West Midlands to bring in more money and powers from central government.