South Holland’s £124,000 a year chief executive Terry Huggins attended his last council meeting on Wednesday with his ‘temporary’ replacement watching from the public gallery.
Trevor Holden, currently chief executive at Luton, steps into the top job here after January 31 – and will manage three councils, including Breckland District Council.
South Holland will carry on looking for a permanent replacement.
Council leader Gary Porter said Mr Holden’s appointment will last for three months or until such time as an alternative is agreed.
“We don’t want him to bring his slippers or anything or get too comfortable with his feet under the table,” Coun Porter told members.
Mr Huggins has worked in local government for more than 40 years and says he is stepping down for “personal reasons”.
He joined South Holland in 1997 and became chief executive ten years ago.
Coun Porter described his departure as a “sad” and paid tribute to his work with the authority.
Mr Huggins told councillors he is proud of initiatives such as development of the Rural Action Zone (RAZ), South Holland setting up its own housing company, entry into shared management with Breckland and the setting up of Compass Point Business Services, a joint administrative partnership with East Lindsey District Council.
He said: “Local government is facing changes the like of which none of us have experienced before.”