County council names Duncan as Service Director: Legal and Governance

Emma Duncan has been appointed Service Director: Legal and Governance at Cambridgeshire County Council.

Duncan is currently Director of Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer for the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and a qualified solicitor.

She replaces Fiona McMillian previously joint Director of Law and Governance for both Cambridgeshire and Peterborough councils, who left both authorities at the end of November.

As Cambridgeshire’s statutory Monitoring Officer and its most senior legal advisor, Duncan will have responsibility for elected member conduct issues, the management of the council’s democratic processes and a range of governance functions, including internal audit.

She is both a former Lawyers in Local Government ‘Governance Lawyer of the Year’ and has been responsible for leading an award-winning MJ Legal Team of the Year.

Duncan said: “I’m delighted to be joining the team at Cambridgeshire County Council at this exciting time and to be working with colleagues to deliver the council’s priorities.”

At the same full council meeting Michael Hudson was appointed as Cambridgeshire’s Executive Director of Finance and Resources.

Duncan and Hudson are expected to join the council in spring 2023.

Cllr Lucy Nethsingha, Leader of Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “Members were set the hard task to select the best candidates for appointment to these key roles working for Cambridgeshire.

“I am delighted that in both cases, following the recommendations from the council’s cross-party Staffing and Appeals Committee, that their appointments were unanimously approved. Elected Members look forward to working with them both."

Stephen Moir, Cambridgeshire’s Chief Executive, said: “I am very pleased that Full Council has approved the appointments of both Michael and Emma – and that we will be able to benefit from their considerable experience, knowledge, and skills as part of the council’s corporate leadership team. I’m really looking forward to them both joining and to working with them.”