A retiring council chief executive will be replaced by her deputy.

Adrian Stanfield was officially appointed as the interim head of Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council yesterday.

Mr Stanfield has served as the borough’s director of central services, and as its deputy chief executive since 2019.

He joined the council as its chief solicitor in 2011, having previously worked in the legal teams of several local authorities, including Weymouth and Portland, Sevenoaks, and Guildford.

He started his legal career in private practice in London.

Mr Stanfield’s interim appointment, which was approved at a full council meeting, will run until May next year.

During this time the council will search for a permanent chief executive to replace the outgoing Julie Beilby who is retiring after heading up the local authority for 10 years.

Ms Beilby, 63, joined the council in April 1984 as an assistant in the leisure department and went on to hold senior roles in the central and customer services teams before being appointed to the top job in February 2013.

She remains with the organisation until February to hand over.

Speaking of his appointment, Mr Stanfield said: “Tonbridge and Malling is a great borough and I’m delighted to be taking up the role of interim chief executive.

“I look forward to working alongside our elected members, staff and partners to push forward with our priorities and continue delivering improvements for residents and businesses.”