The senior council officer widely credited with being behind the turn of fortunes for Swindon Borough Council’s children’s services has left Euclid Street.

David Haley who was for six years the corporate director for children’s services, left the council’s employment last week.

David Renard, Leader of Swindon Borough Council, said: “On behalf of everyone at the Council, I’d like to thank David for his hard work in leading our Children’s Services directorate over the past five-and-a-half years. He will be greatly missed by colleagues and councillors alike. We wish him all the very best for the future.”

Mr Haley, under the political direction of the then cabinet member for children Mary Martin, was in charge of the children’s department when it managed to turn around its performance from receiving a rating of Requires Improvement from Ofsted in 2014,  to receiving a Good rating in 2019 with further praise for the department’s work during the Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions in 2021.

At the time Coun Martin said of Mr Haley: “When he was appointed he came in with a very clear plan of action which he’s stuck to.

“This is also a tribute to the diligence of the staff who have worked really hard to make improvements in every aspect of their day-to-day work.”