WORCESTERSHIRE County Council has agreed to share its director of environmental services with Kent County Council after it was approached as a “good highways authority”.

Worcestershire’s appointments panel met today to discuss a proposal from Kent to take John Hobbs on secondment for two days every week. The panel agreed to the secondment until the end of December on a full cost-recovery basis.

Trish Haines, chief executive Worcestershire County Council, said: “This secondment arrangement reflects well on Worcestershire’s performance in national league tables.

“Kent is a high performing authority with a number of high profile issues. However, when they identified a need in their own environmental services directorate they decided that Worcestershire’s track record in effecting change was exactly what they were looking for.

“That work has been led by our director of environmental services, John Hobbs, and this secondment recognises the success that John has led for Worcestershire.

“We are doubly proud because we also have the expertise elsewhere in the directorate to step up to the plate while John’s away and ensure that we keep heading in the right direction.

“According to the Audit Commission, we’re a good highways authority with good prospects for improvement, so we’ll continue to do all we can to make this happen.”

Mr Hobbs added: "I see this as a great opportunity to develop and build on what has been learned at Worcestershire and I’m already experienced in working with Kent’s contactor, as they have been our contractor too for a number of years.

“Highways is a service which matters so much to the public and I am excited at the challenge of the wider canvas of Kent."

There is no need for the county council to create acting interim arrangements in environmental services as Mr Hobbs’ secondment is part time.