Council bosses say they are in no rush to replace outgoing chief executive of Ashford Borough Council, David Hill, who leaves this summer to take up the same role in Milton Keynes, a place double the size of Ashford.

And the role could be quite different. Leader of Ashford Borough Council Cllr Paul Clokie (Con), said: “The council is not going to be rushed into making a quick decision. Any new chief executive will have a key role to play in shaping the future of the council as an organisation, and the future of the borough, and any appointment would involve significant costs, so we need to be absolutely sure that we are going down the right course before we start any recruitment process.”

Cllr Clokie did not confirm or deny whether or not the role of chief executive of the council could be merged with the role of managing director of Ashford’s Future but said a chief executive’s role has changed since Mr Hill came to Ashford seven years ago.

More on this story in the Kentish Express, out Thursday.