Newly-merged Cheshire council names legal head

Cheshire West and Chester Council - one of the new unitary authorities created in biggest local government shake-up in 30 years - has appointed a head of its legal function.

Simon Goacher, the former Wirral Borough Council head of legal and democratic services, will head up a 46-strong team.

Goacher, who spent seven years at Wirral having previously worked at Bath and North East Somerset Council, will begin his new role next week.

Cheshire West and Chester Council, which came into being on 1 April, is one of two unitary councils - the other being Cheshire East Authority - that replace seven smaller local authorities around Cheshire.

Chris Chapman, formerly of Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council, has been appointed to head up the Cheshire East authority legal team.

The creation of the unitary councils aims to streamline local administration and provide significant cost savings. In total, 44 districts and counties are being replaced by with nine 'supersized' authorities in a process that could save up to £100m.

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