As a self-confessed 'challenge junkie' Ian Stephenson has plenty on which to gorge. At a time in his long career when others in local government might be considering winding down a little, Ian, 59, appointed Derbyshire CC's chief executive last July after management posts at troubled Doncas-ter and Wakefield, is already grappling with the challenges of adult care and funding cuts. He remains an optimist, however, calling not for 'graphs of doom' but 'graphs of hope.' He explains: 'We'll still have millions of pounds and lots of staff in 2018 and we'll still be here. We'll go through hard times but there's a good future. I can't say it'll be great but nor will it be the end of the world. Our staff are up to the challenge. People need to believe they can do it and I certainly do.' Perhaps Ian's hobbies keep him upbeat. He not only plays saxophone in a jazz blues band but he also restores vintage saxes, reflecting his engineering background for his career was primarily in technical services.
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