A new top boss at Bexley Council is set to be signed off next month following the departure of former chief executive Gill Steward.

Jackie Belton, formerly strategic director of corporate services at Lambeth Council, has been tipped by the council to be the new chief executive.

Gill Steward, who joined the council in 2016, stepped down from the £166k role in August.

Ms Belton, who has worked in local government for over two decades, is set to be approved at a council meeting in April.

She said: “I’m delighted and proud to be recommended as the London Borough of Bexley’s new chief executive.

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“Bexley has strong ambition for its residents and clear plans to improve their lives by delivering good places to live, better transport and excellent opportunities for education and employment.”

The leader of the council, Teresa O’Neill, added: “Jackie is joining the council at a challenging and exciting time. We will all be working together to continue to deliver our wide-ranging programme of investment to improve the borough, and to find new and better ways to do things to ensure we get maximum value from the money we spend.”

Paul Moore, the deputy chief executive, has been acting chief executive since Steward’s departure.

At the time of Ms Steward’s departure, the council refused to confirm what, if any, her severance payment would be.

Daniel Francis, leader of the oppostion, said:“On behalf of the Labour group, I would like to extend a warm welcome to Jackie in her new role.

"Like most local authorities, Bexley faces extensive challenges to ensure services are maintained in the face of extensive Government cuts.

"Jackie brings extensive experience in other London authorities in trialing new approaches in housing and other areas and we hope she can use this to deliver improvements to services for local residents in the face of the challenging environment that Bexley finds itself in.”