Tony Goodwin is the Chief Executive of Tamworth Borough Council.

Take a look at the Who's Who of the Borough Council and Leader of the Council and Opposition.

Take a look at Tony's career and a look at his views on the role, challenges and his plans now he has the top job.

It cannot be said that Tony’s career path has followed either a traditional or even straightforward route to his appointment as Chief Executive of Tamworth Borough Council.

After graduating as a geography and PE teacher, he taught for two terms at a high school in Glasgow, before realising he was scared of children.

Seeking something safer, he joined the Royal Marine Commandos where he served as a commissioned officer until he was medically discharged after failing to pay attention during the Falklands campaign.

His first job as a ‘civvy’ was as a Regional Officer with the Sports Council, after which he entered Local Government in Scotland.  He has systematically worked his way south, joining Tamworth Council in August 1997.  He was an original member of David Weatherley’s CMT, and became Deputy Chief Executive three-and-a-half years ago. 

You have recently agreed a single, shared vision for Tamworth with our main partners but what is your vision for the authority?

It’s very simple really: To make Tamworth Borough Council an organisation of which our public, partners, politicians and our staff can feel justifiably proud.

How will your ‘unusual’ career history help you in this role?

When you spend a couple of minutes comparing my role in the military to that of a chief officer in Local Government, there are huge similarities:

Leadership; good communications; managing resources; empowering people to make decisions; deploying a diverse range of resources; problem solving and of course, team building and trust.  In both cases, I worked up through the ranks.

When asked by Prince Charles at the Mercian Formation ceremony “What is the difference between being an officer in the Marines and an officer of the Council?”, I replied: “I knew who the enemy was in the Marines”.

What are you hoping to achieve in your first 12 months?

First and foremost a sense of stability.  We have been bombarded by change and challenge continuously over the last five years and, while we all know that there is more to come, I believe that CMT - supported by everyone else - has created a good foundation for the future.

Secondly, a sense of belonging.  To an organisation that cares about what it does, how it does it and for the people it does it for.  One Tamworth – Perfectly Placed can apply equally to One Organisation – Perfectly Placed to develop and build upon all the excellent work already achieved.  I want silo working confined to farms.

Thirdly, a sense of pride.  For years now, teams and individuals at TBC have set or created new standards for Staffordshire……. only now, we are going to shout about it.  We have a great working relationship with our politicians and partners and we are leading the way in many areas of work…. I want people to know it, and I want our staff to be recognised for the excellent work that they do.

What do you see as the main challenges facing the Council?

There are several challenges facing us but the good news is that we know roughly what they are and when they may occur.

Our message regarding finances has been clear and consistent – we are fine for four years but until we know what the government’s plans are beyond that, then there remains some uncertainty.

‘Rebooting’ the local economy, raising aspirations and education attainment; making Tamworth a healthier and safer place to live life to the full …. hang on, aren’t these our priorities?

Properly understanding ‘Big Society’ and localism will be very important as I suspect, local authorities will be judged or measured upon how successfully we engage with both.

To contact the Chief Executive:
Telephone: 01827 709709, Email: enquiries@tamworth.gov.uk

To write to the Chief Executive, please contact:
Tamworth Borough Council, Marmion House, Tamworth, Staffs, B79 7BZ