Birmingham City Council’s Chief Executive is quitting to take up a dream job in New Zealand.

Dawn Baxendale is leaving after just over a year at the helm of the city council to become chief executive for Christchurch City Council on New Zealand's South Island.

Council leader Ian Ward paid tribute to her brief tenure: “When she joined the council 16 months ago we were entering a new phase in our improvement journey and, thanks in no small part to Dawn's determination and tenacity, we have made significant steps forward.

"I know the team she is leaving behind will continue with that focus and build on the strong improvement foundations that have now been laid.

Dawn Baxendale

"In Dawn's time as Chief Executive we have progressed in our preparations for the Commonwealth Games, launched the Clean Air Zone and seen improvements to children's services for the first time in 10 years."

She said in response: “I have had a wonderful time in Birmingham and want to thank everyone in the city and region who have made me feel welcome.

"I will be leaving behind a stronger senior officer team who have a broad depth of experience and knowledge, and I know are committed to continuing the council’s improvement journey.

Birmingham Council House and Victoria Square in the sunshine

“In particular I want to thank the partners in the city who have been so encouraging in welcoming me, and the council, back into important conversations to make the city the best it can be for citizens.

“The role in Christchurch is a once in a lifetime opportunity and it has been a dream for my family to live in New Zealand. I will watch the journey that Birmingham is on from afar and cannot wait to see, with the rest of the world, the amazing Games the city will put on in three years.”

The council will now start the process for replacing the Chief Executive.

Leader of the city council's Conservative Group, Cllr Robert Alden, said: "It is very sad news that Dawn Baxendale is to leave her role at Birmingham. In her brief time here she has made a huge impact, helping, with her senior management team, to start to unpick the mess the administration had made and I know she will be sorely missed. The Conservative Group wishes her and her family all the best in her new role and thank her for her service."

On her appointment in April last year to the £210,000 a year post, Ms Baxendale said she had been attracted to the post in Birmingham by the "significant opportunities" ahead - including HS2 and the Commonwealth Games.

She said then: "Because Birmingham has had a very difficult history over a number of years now it's also attractive in the sense that somebody's got to get it right. It's not going to be easy but it's a really exciting job."

Christchurch's trams

Earlier this year the city council was the subject of a damning inquiry that called for troubleshooters to force the council to improve.

A damning report by the Birmingham Independent Improvement Panel, published in April, warned the city council's "denial, defensiveness and push-back about the extent of its problems, risks and challenges" has prevented it making more of the improvements it urgently needs.

In its report submitted to Local Government Secretary James Brokenshire, the Panel, headed by John Crabtree, said:

* The city's two bin strikes had cost £14 million and done nothing to improve services

* Generous payments offered to refuse workers could encourage other staff to take industrial action

* The council promised to spend more than £110 million on the Commonwealth Games - but its plans for raising the money appear to have failed

* Birmingham as a whole is getting richer, but too many people aren't sharing in the benefits

* The city council is improving but not fast enough

John Crabtree

Earlier this week the council announced it was bringing in a team of non executive advisers to join a Strategic Programme Board to bring 'independent judgement, external perspectives and advise on strategy and performance.'

They would offer support around bins, waste and industrial relations, outcomes for vulnerable children and adults, managing risks, and peer support to the management team.

The council has not yet provided additional information about the advisory roles, including the salaries involved or the details of appointees.