Council directors say goodbye to Southwark after a combined 50 years’ service

24 October 2018

Southwark Council has today announced that Deborah Collins, Strategic Director for Environment and Leisure, and Ian Smith, Director of Environment, will leave the council this winter, to pursue different opportunities.

Ms Collins, who joined the council in 2007 from HMRC, will take up the role of Chief Operating Officer at Cardiff University, while Ian Smith, who started at Southwark as an apprentice 38 years ago, is taking early retirement.

Both officers saw their careers flourish at Southwark, and as well as managing some of the council’s largest service areas, the colleagues were responsible for a number of major successful projects. In 2003, Ian Smith brought the council’s cleaning service in-house from six different contractors, reducing bureaucracy and ensuring the service was properly resourced to provide a great service. He has recently also overseen the council’s repairs service coming in-house.

Deborah Collins, whose roles at the council included Monitoring Officer and Strategic Director for Communities, Law and Governance, before taking on the Environment and Leisure portfolio, oversaw the council’s involvement in the Olympics in 2012, and the introduction and rollout of the free swim and gym offer to residents, paid for by reprocuring the leisure contract.

Cllr Peter John, Leader of Southwark Council, said: “Deborah and Ian have been great servants of the council for many years, and we are sad to see them go. Deborah has offered us invaluable support as Strategic Director, and Ian has dedicated his entire working life to Southwark. Both have demonstrated huge commitment to public service and we wish each of them well.”

Deborah Collins said: “It has been an absolute privilege to work for Southwark for nearly 12 years, and to witness the great strides the council and the borough have made under the leadership of Cllr Peter John, and Eleanor Kelly. When I first joined Southwark in 2007 and was based in the former Southwark Town Hall, there is no question it was a very different place, but what has kept me here is the council’s amazingly dedicated staff, and our shared commitment to delivering the very best services for local people. I will miss Southwark hugely, but am also very excited about my new role, which takes me nearer to my home, and into a brand new sector.”

Ian Smith said: “I joined Southwark straight from school, with no A-levels or degree, and worked my way up to Director, which I hope shows all our current apprentices what is possible. I believe talent is recognised and nurtured in Southwark, and if you are passionate about what you do, and work hard, you can really fly here.”

Deborah Collins’ last day at the council will be 21st December before heading  west to Cardiff,  while Ian Smith will leave on 25 January 2019 with plans to move east to the Kent coast and renovate a new home. Recruitment for their replacements will begin in due course.

Page last updated: 24 October 2018