Redbridge Council has appointed its fourth chief executive in four years, after the current interim boss announced he would retire.

Claire Hamilton, now the chief executive of Dacorum Borough Council, will take on the top job in March 2025.

The council says her priorities will be new homes in the borough, regeneration schemes, and fostering a “positive, inclusive culture” in the town hall.

She previously worked for councils in Harlow, East Herts, Epping Forest and Basildon, borough councils in Waltham Forest, Ealing and Brent, and a number of London-based housing associations.

She also worked as the director of the Harlow & Gilston Garden Town project between 2018 and 2020, a 19,000-home estate in Essex being built for 2045.

Redbridge Council leader Kam Rai said: “Claire’s extensive experience, proven track record of strong leadership and innovation, and understanding of the needs and aspirations of our community will be invaluable and made her the outstanding candidate for us to appoint.

“As Redbridge moves forward, all of us will focus on building on the borough’s successes, and I look forward to welcoming Claire and working with her.”

Chief executives are responsible for managing the council’s day-to-day operations, advising councillors and committees, and helping to implement new policies. They are not elected members, unlike Cllr Rai.

Redbridge's interim chief executive, Adrian Loades, announced earlier this month he would be retiring in January.

He was appointed as the interim boss after the previous chief executive, Claire Symonds, left the post in February. She had joined in 2022 after the departure of Lesley Seary, who took on the role in 2021.

He said it was the “right time” for him to leave, adding: “There is no drama here. It is a decision that I made some time ago.”

According to Mr Loades, the council “needs to go into the next few years with leaders who will be with it throughout the next stage of its journey”.

The town hall is currently predicting an annual overspend of £33m and is exploring various cuts to services, including support for vulnerable families and children’s centres.

It could be facing a budget deficit of £91m by 2030, councillors have warned.