FORMER Bradford Council chief executive Tony Reeves is set to use his 20 years experience in local government as a private sector advisor helping councils across the country to cope with the inpact of austerity budget cuts In 2010 he warned that around 5,000 Bradford Council jobs could be at risk due to cuts and to date around 1,500 posts have been axed by the authority .

Mr Reeves, who stood down from Bradford Council last month after eight years, has joined business advisory firm Deloitte as a partner in its public sector practice. Based in the Leeds office, he will work nationally.

Tony Reeves said: “I have been directly involved in all aspects of strategy and policy development in local government for the past 20 years and I’m looking forward to bringing that experience to bear for Deloitte’s local government clients across the UK.”

Before joining Bradford Council, Mr Reeves was deputy chief executive of Wakefield Council. In Bradford he oversaw the council’s £1.5 billion turnover and 20,000 employees.

Tony will focus on advising hard-pressed councils on repositioning and changing services in the face of continuing austerity and budget cuts while coping with increasing demands on social care from an ageing population.

Deloitte said his appointment demonstrated its commitment to the public sector practice.

Tony will lead professionals from across the firm to tailor services to needs of different local government clients. He will also work with Deloitte’s health care specialists to support health and social care integration.

Six years agoDeloitte invested in this sector, creating a centre of excellence for healthcare in the North led by Paul Thomson and said investing in the local government team was a natural extension.

Martin Jenkins, practice senior partner for Yorkshire and the North East, said: “The pace of change in the public sector, and especially local government, requires innovative solutions to the challenges the sector is facing. Tony has a deep understanding of the challenges and will be able to deliver different outcomes using the full capability of the firm’s expertise.”