Council leaders 'will work well'

Ms Wheeler will start in February

The incoming chief executive of Somerset County Council says she is confident of being able to work with the council's leader Ken Maddock.

Sheila Wheeler replaces Alan Jones who retired in July shortly after the Conservatives came into power.

Liberal Democrats on the council have accused Mr Maddock of "governance by diktat" through the "strong leader and cabinet" model the council adopted.

Ms Wheeler says she is "perfectly sure he will not get in my way".

"It has to be completely co-ordinated. We may have our moments in time in the future; inevitably we will have healthy discussions but when we walk out of the door of this office we will be in unison," she said.

"We will talk one line and we will be completely together on what we're delivering to the people of Somerset."

'Improving lives'

The "governance by diktat" accusation, to which Mr Maddock did not respond, was made during a council meeting.

Since the Tories took over from the Lib Dems after 16 years, there have been several clashes between the two groups.

Some of the disputed issues include police community support officer funding, pay changes for council workers and South West One - the partnership between IBM, Taunton Deane Borough Council and Somerset County Council to privatise back office jobs.

Of the 200 applicants, Mr Maddock said Ms Wheeler was always "the number one pick".

Ms Wheeler said her new position was a "step up" from her previous job as head of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

"I think the basic principles of the job are the same. It's about improving lives and improving the outcomes of people in their local area.

"That's what I do well, and that's what I will do well at Somerset County Council, too."

Mr Maddock said that Ms Wheeler's salary would be £160,000 and that she would start work in February.