THE retirement of joint chief executive David Buckle will lead to a review of the management structure at Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire district councils.

About 400 staff at the two authorities, now based in offices at Milton Park after their headquarters in Crowmarsh Gifford almost burnt to the ground last year, have been briefed that Mr Buckle is to retire in the summer.

Staff have been co-operating closely on providing services since 2005, but joint working has increased since Mr Buckle was appointed joint chief executive in 2008.

Mr Buckle, whose post has a salary of £134,919, was unavailable for comment and is not expected to reflect on his career until nearer the time of his retirement in the summer.

But SODC leader John Cotton and Vale council leader Matt Barber both paid tribute to the work he has done.

Mr Cotton said: “Since becoming shared chief executive of South and Vale councils, David has delivered many years of excellent service to both, helping us to be among the most efficient and well-run organisations in local government.

“Having taken on the role in 2008, David’s efforts across the two councils are in addition to the years of dedicated service he showed to South Oxfordshire prior to that.”

The announcement of Mr Buckle’s retirement came as the councils confirmed a deal is set to save £18m over the course of the next nine years, by signing a contract with two companies to run some back office services.

The councils are working with three other authorities – Hart District Council and Havant Borough Council in Hampshire, and Mendip District Council in Somerset – to draw up a shared contract so two companies can run some internal departments like human resources and IT.

Subject to the contracts being signed on March 31, the new arrangement is expected to start in South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse in August.

Mr Cotton added: “With the changes the corporate outsourcing contract will bring in August – and with an eye to the rapidly changing local government landscape – now is the time to review our management structure.

“We will shortly be starting an external recruitment process to appoint David’s successor and he has agreed to remain in post until an appointment is made. The first task of the new person will be to implement a revised management structure that will set us up for the years to come.”