New £215,000 council CEO was reality show winner

Image source, Norfolk County Council

Image caption, Dennis Bacon is a businessman with wide-ranging experience in adult social care

ByHenry Durand

Local Democracy reporter

A businessman who won a reality television show is due to take on the £215,000 a year job as a council chief executive.

Dennis Bacon, who has a wide-ranging background in adult social care, has been chosen to take charge of Reform UK-led Norfolk County Council.

He also runs a bed and breakfast in Norwich and last year was crowned winner on an episode of Channel 4's Four in a Bed.

The final decision on his appointment still requires the normal pre-employment checks and sign-off from full council, which is due to meet next week.

Image source, Paul Moseley/BBC

Image caption, Council leader David Bick said he was "impressed" by Dennis Bacon's experience in the commercial and public sector

Bacon's appointment comes after Tom McCabe suddenly quit the post shortly after Reform took control of the authority in May.

Alongside his hospitality ventures, Bacon spent 19 years as chairman of the Norfolk Independent Care Association, which supports more than 600 organisations and 11,000 staff in the adult social care industry, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The 63-year-old has also sat on the Norfolk and Waveney Sustainability and Transformation Partnership – a network of local NHS organisations and councils, and previously was given an Outstanding Leadership in Public Services award by the county council.

Last year, he emerged as winner on Four in a Bed, where B&B owners compete against each other to be named best host.

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"We were impressed with Dennis's commercial and public sector experience," said David Bick, the Reform leader of the council.

He added Bacon was determined to "ensure value for money and quality services for the residents of Norfolk".

Final interviews for the role were conducted this week.

According to a council report, external, 49 people applied for the job.

Image source, Paul Moseley/BBC

Image caption, Conservative Kay Mason Billig has accused Reform of rushing the appointment process

However, the process has been criticised by opposition leaders, who accused Reform of running the recruitment with "extreme haste".

The post was advertised for 24 days, which some argued was too short a window.

Kay Mason Billig, the former leader of the council and current leader of the Conservatives, also raised concerns that her party had no representation on the cross party panel.

If the appointment is approved by the council, Bacon is expected to start on 7 September.

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