Christchurch Town Council clerk Daniel Lucas resigns to take new senior role at Winchester City Council

CHRISTCHURCH Town Council's first clerk, Daniel Lucas, is leaving the post saying he is “proud of what I have achieved”.

Mr Lucas is going to take a senior role at Winchester City Council and begin a doctorate at Nottingham University.

He took on the job in 2019 as Christchurch Town Council was formed in the wake of the former borough authority being merged into BCP Council.

Speaking to the A&T, Mr Lucas said: “I’m proud of what I have achieved since the formation of the town council in April 2019.

“The three years since have seen me dual-qualify as a clerk, being nominated as a finalist in the New Clerk of the Year award (2020) by the Society of Local Council Clerks and subsequently being made a Fellow of the same Society.

“Establishing a new town council with a small precept and only skeleton staff during Covid was a massive undertaking.

"Since then, we have delivered on licensing major events at Christchurch quay, are developing a Neighbourhood Plan for the town to help shape new buildings and development and are currently working in partnership with BCP Council in taking over more assets and play parks.”

He added: “Going forwards, I’m certain that the town council shall continue to be a strong democratic voice for local issues.

"I feel it’s time to hand over the mantle having achieved the creation and consolidation of a new town council and look forwards to my new role and PhD studies which shall still bring me to Christchurch.”

Mr Lucas will be the new senior planning and litigation lawyer for Winchester and is also commencing a PhD in which he will study Christchurch and Southampton’s former workhouses in the context of poor laws and emergence of local government.

Mr Lucas's resignation was revealed at a meeting of the town council last week.

During his time as town clerk, he has also assisted the Throop and Holdenhurst community and was its acting village clerk during the creation of Throop and Holdenhurst Village Council.

Christchurch Town Council has begin the process of finding Mr Lucas’s successor.