Peterborough City Council finance chief quits

Peterborough City Council’s chief finance officer has announced her departure – a year after stepping up to the role on a permanent basis. Cecilie Booth has resigned from her post as executive director of corporate services and section 151 officer, de facto finance chief.

In recent months she has played a key role in straightening out the council’s complex deal surrounding the unfinished Hilton Hotel.

Ms Booth was appointed to the role permanently last November having joined the city council in January 2022 as interim executive director of corporate services.

Matt Gladstone, Chief Executive of Peterborough City Council, said: “The council has undergone significant change in the past few years and the experience, innovation and strong and adaptive leadership that Cecilie has brought to the role has been a key component in tackling a number of difficult issues and creating a council that is forward looking, ambitious and tackling its financial challenge head on.

“I will very much miss working with Cecilie and she will be a hard act to follow, but after three years at the helm of our finances I respect her decision that the time is right to move on to pastures new.

“The process to replace Cecilie has begun, but in the meantime she will remain in post to see us through to the end of the financial year, leading our work to eliminate the in-year over spend and developing a balanced budget for 2025/26.”

A city council spokesperson told CambsNews that staff were informed about her departure “a few weeks back”.

The spokesperson added: “There is no firm date in place yet for when Cecilie will be leaving us, but it will be towards the end of the financial year.

“We will be going out to advert soon to find her replacement.”

Following her appointment, Mr Gladstone said: “Cecilie has very much led the transformation in the council’s finances over the past 18 months so naturally we are delighted to recommend her appointment on a permanent basis.

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“When Cecilie joined the council we were facing a £16m projected overspend in-year and a predicted budget gap in 2022/23 of £26.8m. There was little long-term budget planning and member and staff engagement on the budget was not strong.

“The picture now is very different. We still face financial challenges, like all councils, but we now have a much firmer grip on our finances and are moving forwards at pace towards achieving financial sustainability.

“We are delighted to recommend that Cecilie leads our finances as we continue to strive towards becoming a financially sustainable council.”

Cecilie has a career in local government finance spanning 25 years, having qualified with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) in 1998. In that time, she has served in roles for the NHS, the police and local councils and also the private sector, working for Capita as a financial consultant and treasury advisors Arlingclose.

Prior to joining Peterborough, Cecilie was Chief Operating and Chief Financial Officer for City of London Police.

Cecilie said after her appointment to the post on a permanent basis at Peterborough: “I have very much enjoyed my time so far working for the city council and we have achieved a huge amount to move the organisation onto a more stable footing.

Cecilie Booth has resigned from her post as executive director of corporate services and section 151 officer, de facto finance chief.

“This is a really great time to work in Peterborough, with so many exciting projects underway or in planning. Much hard work also remains as we move closer towards becoming a financially sustainable council. I want to continue to play a key role in that transformation of the council and in supporting the city to grow and prosper.

“These are not easy times for local councils, but I believe that with the top team we now have in place and a committed and passionate workforce we will find a place of financial stability.”

Cecilie joined Peterborough City Council in January 2022. She is responsible for a range of services, including: