The Chief Executive of Stratford on Avon District Council has announced that he will be retiring from his post in October this year.

Ian Prosser will be stepping down after nearly 13 years as the council's chief officer. He said:

"I'm giving this length of notice so that the council has time to make proper arrangements for the appointment of a successor. This will also allow my successor an opportunity to settle into the post in good time before May 2002, when all the councillors are up for election.

"In addition, there are now many changes taking place, and by October the new political management structure and the proposed officer structure, with which I have been very closely involved, should be in position. I believe it is in the best interests of the authority for a new Chief Executive to take over at this stage in order to drive forward the changes that are being implemented.

"I have been privileged to serve as Chief Executive of the district but I now look forward to catching up with other things which I have not have time to do in the past. It will also be a novelty for me to control my own diary arrangements in the future."

Ian Prosser was born in Eckington near Pershore. He is a qualified solicitor with over 38 years' experience in local government and the health service, but has spent the last 25 years in Chief Officer posts in these services.

Before joining Stratford on Avon District Council he was a General Manager with Coventry Health Authority. Previously he was Town Clerk at Blackpool and a Borough Solicitor in Bournemouth. He is married to Marjorie, has two daughters and lives in Ettington.

A committee of councillors will select the council's new Chief Executive in the next few months.