Bob Kerslake
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert Kerslake is the permanent secretary
of the Communities and Local Government department of the UK government.
, where he was also secretary of the students' union, later qualifying as a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy
and holding a number of posts with councils in London before becoming Chief Executive of the London Borough of Hounslow
. He moved to Sheffield
to take up the post of Chief Executive of Sheffield City Council
in 1997. He departed to take up his post with the Homes and Communities Agency in March 2008.
Permanent Secretary
The Permanent secretary, in most departments officially titled the permanent under-secretary of state , is the most senior civil servant of a British Government ministry, charged with running the department on a day-to-day basis...
of the Communities and Local Government department of the UK government.
Career
Originally from Bath, he graduated in Mathematics from the University of WarwickUniversity of Warwick
The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
, where he was also secretary of the students' union, later qualifying as a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy
Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy
The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy is a professional institute for accountants working in the public services.CIPFA has 14,000 members who work throughout the public services, in national audit agencies, in major accountancy firms, and in other bodies where public money...
and holding a number of posts with councils in London before becoming Chief Executive of the London Borough of Hounslow
London Borough of Hounslow
-Political composition:Since the borough was formed it has been controlled by the Labour Party on all but two occasions. In 1968 the Conservatives formed a majority for the first and last time to date until they lost control to Labour in 1971. Labour subsequently lost control of the council in the...
. He moved to Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
to take up the post of Chief Executive of Sheffield City Council
Sheffield City Council
Sheffield City Council is the city council for the metropolitan borough of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It consists of 84 councillors, elected to represent 28 wards, each with three councillors...
in 1997. He departed to take up his post with the Homes and Communities Agency in March 2008.
Recognition
- In 2003 Kerslake was named in a Guardian list of the 100 most influential people in the public sector.
- In 2004 he received an Honorary Doctorate from Sheffield Hallam UniversitySheffield Hallam UniversitySheffield Hallam University is a higher education institution in South Yorkshire, England, based on two sites in Sheffield. City Campus is located in the city centre, close to Sheffield railway station, and Collegiate Crescent Campus is about two miles away, adjacent to Ecclesall Road in...
for his "distinctive contribution to public service". - In 2004 he received a knighthood for services to local government.