The joint LGA/Treasury body, Local Partnerships, set up to provide commercial expertise for local government in project delivery recently confirmed the appointment of a new chief executive in Judith Armitt, an experienced senior manager who has worked across both central and local government.

Her strong background in regeneration including the Thames Gateway also reflects the importance of the local economic growth agenda for Local Partnerships. A former local authority finance officer who spent a decade at Lewisham LBC, Judith Armitt became chief executive of the then new unitary Medway Council in 1997.