Leader of the Council has paid his respects to former Hounslow Council Chief Executive Lord Kerslake who died over the weekend.
Published: Monday, 3rd July 2023
Former Chief Executive of Hounslow Council, Lord Robert ‘Bob’ Kerslake, passed away over the weekend aged 68, after being diagnosed with cancer.
Born in Bath, he attended the Blue School in Wells and graduated with a first class degree in mathematics from the University of Warwick.
After qualifying as a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountability, he held a number of posts with London Councils including Hounslow, before taking up the post of chief executive at Sheffield City Council in 1997.
From 2008–2010 he was chief executive of the Homes and Communities Agency and appointed permanent secretary of the Department for Communities and Local Government in September 2010, before becoming chair of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in 2014.
He was knighted in 2005 for services to local government and introduced as a crossbench life peer in the House of Lords on 17 March 2015.
In 2003, Lord Kerslake was included in the Guardian’s list of the most influential people in the public sector.
Councillor Shantanu Rajawat, Leader of Hounslow Council, said: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Lord Kerslake who was a remarkable man, a rare gem and a true public servant. He was Chief Executive of Hounslow Council in 1990, serving our borough for eight years during which time he made a significant contribution to our borough, its people and the local government landscape.
“Lord Kerslake's talents rightly saw him rise to lead the nation's Civil Service. He was a man who stood up for what was right, and his ethics and morals have and will continue to inspire countless others across the public sector.
“The loss of this great man will be felt by all.
“I would like to offer my sincere condolences to Lord Kerslake’s family at this difficult time.”
