Robert Cottrill to Lead Three East Sussex Councils

Robert Cottrill, the chief executive for Lewes District and Eastbourne Borough councils in East Sussex, is slated to assume the position of interim chief executive for Hastings Borough Council. During a full council meeting on Wednesday, Hastings councillors unanimously voted to appoint Mr. Cottrill as the authority’s interim chief executive. This appointment is initially for a six-month duration, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. The council has stated that Mr. Cottrill will continue in his roles as chief executive of Lewes District Council and Eastbourne Borough Council, distributing his time among all three authorities. Mr. Cottrill has served as chief executive for Lewes District and Eastbourne Borough Council since January 2016 and brings 35 years of experience from the public sector. He was first appointed chief executive at Eastbourne in 2009, subsequently moving into the joint role with Lewes District Council in 2016. In a statement released after the meeting, Mr. Cottrill remarked: “As a resident of Hastings, I know the town well and consider it a great honour and privilege to be asked to lead our council.” This appointment follows the departure of Jane Hartnell, the authority’s previous chief executive, last month.