Maidenhead & Windsor

The Windsor and Maidenhead Royal Borough’s chief executive David Lunn plans to retire at the end of February next year after achieving a rare treble in local government.

The decision, announced to the Windsor and Maidenhead council’s elected members and staff on Friday (August 31), will end 40 years in local government, 25 of them with the borough and the last 12 of them as chief executive.

David said this upcoming trio of achievements was an appropriate time to say farewell to the council and start on a new phase of his career.

He explained: “I plan to have a extended break during next spring and summer and then I want to use the skills I have built up over the past 40 years for the benefit of the community, but in a way that will enable me to work for just three days a week. This will give me opportunities to remain in public service while having a little more time for the things I enjoy outside work.”

Looking back on his time with the Windsor and Maidenhead borough, David said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my 25 years here. During that time I have been privileged to work with talented and highly professional colleagues – in the council itself, in partner organisations and in our community. We have achieved a lot together and I am proud of the services that we all work hard to provide for the council’s residents and customers.

“Although I will be leaving at the end of February in the meantime it is business as usual. However, I know that when I hand over to my successor he or she will inherit a fine and committed staff with the best interests of the community at the heart of everything they do.”

David joined the Windsor and Maidenhead council initially as borough secretary and became chief executive in 1996, playing a key part in creating and shaping the council as a unitary authority in April 1998. In 1997 he was appointed by the Secretary of State as a board member of the English Tourism Council – the only person from local government to perform such a role – and served two terms until the abolition of the ETC in 2003. David was awarded the OBE in the Queen’s Jubilee Honours in 2002 for his work in tourism.

David takes a particular interest in the Royal Borough’s successful partnerships. He chairs a number of them and is also a board member of the Berkshire Learning and Skills Council.

He said: “Being chief executive of a busy local authority leaves little time for leisure activities so I am looking forward to having more time for watching sport, particularly cricket and rugby, seeing a bit more of the world, reading and, of course, the odd glass of wine.”

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead