Voluntary redundancy of Director of Public Health could cost nearly £300,000

by Lisa Reeves

Tuesday 9^th August 2016

Tue 9^th Aug 2016

The Staffing Committee of Cheshire East Council is being asked to approve the termination of the contract of employment of the current Director of Public Health (DPH) via voluntary redundancy at a potential cost of nearly £300,000.

Cheshire East Council is in the process of modernising and transforming its way of working and has recently established a structure of three Directorates – People, Place and Corporate Services.

As part of the reorganisation, Public Health will be brought into the new People Directorate, and current post of Director of Public Health which reports to the Chief Executive will be deleted and replaced with a Director of Public Health which reports to the Director of Adult Social Care and Health.

This has resulted in a move from a tier 2 to a tier 4 post and a drop in salary for the position from £183,328 pa to £86,636 pa. The current Director of Public Health Dr Heather Grimbaldeston has indicated that the new DPH post is not a suitable alternative to the present post, no other suitable alternative roles are available in the Council and as a result she has requested to be allowed to leave the Council on voluntary redundancy terms.

The Staffing Committee are therefore being requested, at their meeting on Tuesday, 16th August, to approve the voluntary redundancy at a potential cost of ££293,814, which includes pension costs, which would be met from within the Public Health Grant.

Due to the cut in salary for this post the Council says the costs of voluntary redundancy would be recouped within a 4 year period.

The new Director of Public Health will report into Mark Palethorpe who has just been appointed to the new position of Director of Adult Social Care and Health.

Mark Palethorpe, who has spent the past six years at Cheshire West and Chester Council, will head up a new integrated directorate, bringing Adult Social Care and Health together.

Councillor Janet Clowes, Cabinet member for adult care and integration, said: "We are really proud to have attracted such a first class candidate who understands the issues in Cheshire East and who can make a real difference to the lives of our residents here.

"His vast experience in the west will be invaluable as we move towards a more integrated health and social care model that will deliver better value for the people of Cheshire East."

Kath O'Dwyer, Cheshire East Council deputy chief executive and executive director of people, said: "We are absolutely delighted to have Mark as part of the Cheshire East team.

"He will be a real asset as we progress our journey to transform 'Peoples' services for the better."

Mark, who lives in Sandbach with his young family, will be based at the Council's Westfields headquarters in the town.

He said: "This feels like coming home. I am incredibly excited about using my skills and experience to help shape and deliver new and innovative social care and health solutions for our elderly and vulnerable residents across Cheshire East."

Photo: Mark Palethorpe the new Director of Adult Social Care and Health.

Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Graham Shaw

Wednesday 10^th August 2016 at 2:58 pm

I wonder if Dr Grimbaldeston will be barred from taking similar posts for a reasonable period within Local Gov't / NHS - or is that asking too much??? We hear too many of these stories where people take a nice handshake and then are instantly re-employed on similar if not better salaries.

Barry Stafford

Wednesday 10^th August 2016 at 3:52 pm

WHAT!!!!!! she is on £183,000 pa and wants nearly £300,000 to leave as redundancy.I bet another job is in the pipeline,as all these overpaid employees of CEC arrange for themselves.How the hell do the council pay £40,000 more than the Prime Minister Who has a huge portfolio,huge job spec and responsibility.Along with serious risk from nutcases. This Doctor/Director of Public Health.probably sits on committees and pushes paper across her desk as most of them do.Baz

Peter Evans

Wednesday 10^th August 2016 at 10:46 pm

It's very simple - don't offer VR, offer her a new post on less money. If she doesn't like it she can lump it. A salary of £183k in Cheshire East for that role is totally ridiculous. It's more than the PM earns.

Vince Fogharty

Thursday 11^th August 2016 at 2:29 pm

It's not the fault of the outgoing DPH, she is getting what will be in her contract under redundancy terms, not sure why it is being termed VR as if the current job role changes or their is a significant salary change then she is entitled under law to ask for redundancy and get it. The real question has to be why CEC put a contract like this together in the first place, they will give the blanket answer "to remain competitive and attract the best candidates". If the government capped all public service roles at the PM salary then the role would attract people who want to do it and are not just chasing money. But whoever is in power will have very little appetite to do that, too much of a backlash from the back benches. As for the comment "Due to the cut in salary for this post the Council says the costs of voluntary redundancy would be recouped within a 4 year period." well CEC have yet to have a structure that lasted 4 years yet, so little hope of that, also why was the redundancy costs not part of the restructure budget? In a commercial company you dont consider redundancy's without looking at the associated costs first. But we are talking CEC here!

Thursday 11^th August 2016 at 9:50 pm

Okay, simply translate this into how many resident's total council tax contributions this all relates to: let's say £1000 person, that's 183 people's total council tax pays this persons salary. So, I challenge Dr Heather Grimbaldeston to demonstrate how her contribution has delivered more than £183k of actual value to the community she is alleged to serve. If she can't, then what is the justification for keeping her in her role, or paying her anything if we relieve her of her duties...