Council structure

Councillors

Wyre Council is made up of 50 councillors who are democratically elected by the residents of Wyre every four years to represent the views and opinions of the communities. Their roles include:

• Deciding how services are provided
• Ensuring that the services the council provides are delivered in the most efficient and effective way
• Agreeing the rates of council tax and other fees and charges for council services 
• Determining how the council's money should be spent

Wyre operates the “executive model” of decision-making. The executive consists of a Leader and Cabinet who, as a group or as individual portfolio holders, take many of the councillor-level decisions. The “Full Council” approves the council’s overall budget and policy framework and has delegated to certain committees and individuals the authority to take decisions on its behalf. 

Each of the committees and individuals shown in the democratic structure chart has the authority to take some decisions.

The decisions that the executive and each committee or person are able to take are detailed in the Responsibility for Functions and Scheme of Delegation parts of the council’s constitution

Find out how to contact all Wyre councillors

Officers of the council

The council employs staff to give advice, implement its decisions and to manage the day-to-day delivery of council services. Council employees are known as "officers" and they are led by the Chief Executive supported by three directors. 

Chief Executive 

Garry Payne is the Chief Executive. He is Principal Policy Advisor to the council and is the Returning Officer whenever there is an election. He has direct management responsibility for the three Service Directors, the Head of Finance and Head of Planning and Regeneration.

Service Directors

Mark Billington is the Service Director for People and Places and has management responsibility for Operational Services, Engineering and Contact Centre.

Mark Broadhurst is the Service Director for Health and Wellbeing and has management responsibility for Housing, Environmental Health, Community Safety, Leisure and Tourism. 

Marianne Hesketh is the Service Director for Performance and Innovation and has management responsibility for Transformation, Governance, Business Support and Built Environment.