Peter Sloman
Henley On Thames,Oxfordshire
Summary
Experienced board chair and non-executive director with a robust background in local government leadership. Achieved recognition for two councils as 'council of the year' during a 22-year tenure as chief executive. Currently advises executives and teams, focusing on performance improvement and organizational potential. Extensive board experience includes chairing a £10m turnover social enterprise and serving as a non-executive director for a housing association and a bus company.
Overview
41
41
years of professional experience
Work history
Chief Executive
Reading Borough Council
Reading, Berkshire
2017.05 - 2022.05
- Head of Paid Service for unitary council
- Worked with Councillors and managers to resolve serious financial crisis and below par service outcomes
- Recruited and motivated whole new top team of 25 directors and service heads
- Established arm's length Children's Company which resulted in end of Government statutory intervention in Council's Children's Service
- Won nation awards and sector recognition for: economic growth in Reading; council house building; highways and traffic management; and work on climate change
- Developed “Team Reading” organisation culture programme that transformed performance and sense of pride
- Enjoyed strong satisfaction ratings from the public on performance of the Council and value for money
- Led Council's response to COVID pandemic and an international terrorist attack in Reading
Chief Executive
Oxford City Council
Oxford
2007.01 - 2017.05
- Managed local authority
- Led and motivated 1200 employees
- Improved relationship with stakeholder
- Established arm's length housing company
- Established Low Carbon Oxford as a social enterprise
- Established a successful Direct Services Trading Company
- Won Council of the Year Award
Chief Executive
High Peak Borough Council
Buxton, Derbyshire
2000.10 - 2017.05
- Head of Paid Service for Borough Council
- Organisation performance transformation
- Achieved Excellent CPA assessment
- Awarded as Council of the Year
- Heritage Regeneration of Buxton
- Created campus for Derby University
Director of Town Services
Slough Borough Council
Slough, Berkshire
1995.10 - 2000.05
- Responsible for all direct services to the public
- Housing services
- Leisure services
- Responsible for all Council assets & capital investment
- Managed 750 employees
- Accountable for budget of £70m
Director of Housing
Slough Borough Council
Slough, Berkshire
1990.06 - 1995.10
- Started as Head of Housing needs, career progression through to director
- Responsible for all housing services
- Built over 1,000 social housing properties
- Ended practice of temporary use housing for the homeless
- Created an innovative 'one stop shop' for council services
Various
London Borough Councils
Bromley, Southwark, Lambeth
1981.02 - 1990.06
- Most frontline roles in Housing, culminating in a Senior Homelessness Manager role in Lambeth.
- Trainee CIPFA accountant.
- Trainee Institute of Housing.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Political Economy
Greenwich University
Greenwich06.1981
Skills
- Board leadership and governance
- Team collaboration
- Risk management
- Organizational transformation
- Non-executive directorship
- Cross-sector partnerships
- Mentoring and coaching
- Communication skills
- Customer insights
Board and Governance Experience
- Helped a Housing Association establish a company to insource its Maintenance Services and now Chair the company board.
- Non Executive Director SOHA that manages and develops social housing in Oxfordshire and beyond
- Non Executive Director of Reading Bus Company which manages public transport across Berkshire
- Created Brighter Future for Children, managing statutory children's services for Reading Borough Council.
- Established Oxford Direct Services, to run Oxford City's Environmental Services.
- Served on board of Cherwell College Oxford
- Served as Non-Executive Director for A2Dominion Housing Association
- Advisor to Oxford City Council & Reading Borough Council's arm's length housing companies.
Timeline
Chief Executive
Reading Borough Council
2017.05 - 2022.05
Chief Executive
Oxford City Council
2007.01 - 2017.05
Chief Executive
High Peak Borough Council
2000.10 - 2017.05
Director of Town Services
Slough Borough Council
1995.10 - 2000.05
Director of Housing
Slough Borough Council
1990.06 - 1995.10
Various
London Borough Councils
1981.02 - 1990.06
Bachelor of Arts - Political Economy
Greenwich University