Cheshire East Council has decided to suspend their Chief Operating Officer Peter Bates following concerns about his conduct.
Concerns were raised earlier this year over the conduct of one or more senior officers at Cheshire East Council.
The Investigation and Disciplinary Committee met on Monday, 10th and Tuesday 11th April, to discuss the issues raised.
Following the meetings Cheshire East Council confirmed that a decision has been taken to suspend Mike Suarez the Chief Executive of Cheshire East Council while an independent investigation is undertaken.
At the time the Council would not disclose any details regarding the nature of the concerns raised about officer conduct or whether the committee was investigating the conduct of any other officers.
However, Cheshire East Council's investigation and disciplinary committee reconvened today (Monday, 4th December) to further consider concerns about officer conduct.
Following this meeting the Council has confirmed that the committee reviewed its previous decisions regarding the Chief Operating Officer and a decision has been taken to suspend him.
The chairman of the investigation and disciplinary committee, said: "We would stress that suspension is a neutral act taken in the interests of both the council and the individual. It would be inappropriate to make any further comment at this stage."
A spokesperson for Cheshire East Council said "Appropriate arrangements will be put in place to ensure that the responsibilities of this role are covered."
Comments
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CEC has been unfit for purpose since week one. Surely it is time to apply for a winding-up order?
"Suspension is a neutral act, taken in the best interests of all parties. Appropriate arrangements will be put in place to ensure that the responsibilities of the role are covered."
......nothing to see here.......move along.
Not if you are a taxpayer footing the bill it isn't.
Based on previous form I'd say this whole shambles will conclude in about 18 months time with some waffle about a 'mutual understanding' involving a huge pay off and the departure of said executives to pastures anew substantially better off for the experience.
I'd be surprised if the whole episode including all three suspended executives costs us less than £1M taking into account the cost of cover for their garden leave, cost of god knows how many investigations, pension payments and pay-offs.
The taxpayers who funded this entire fiasco will be tapped up again for another increase in council tax to pay for CEC's ineptitude but will be told nothing.
No commercial organisation could survive this.
John Redwood writes an interesting article observing that a Council Chief Executive is mainly unnecessary http://bit.ly/2jjLtzx
I think that it's important to remember that there is an "us and them" conflict at any council - the elected representatives in charge plus the hired help to make things happen. The fact that some of the hired help are paid a lot of money doesn't mean that they're in charge, but perhaps they don't always remember this? The fact that some of the hired help are also given large pay rises "because they work hard" doesn't alter that basic fact.
Cheshire East need to be careful about the length of time they suspend staff without completing their investigation, prolonged suspension may be seen as constructive dismissal as the longer a suspension takes place the likelihood of a return become harder.
"Failure" is rewarded, severance benefits and a new office.
"Failure" is rewarded, severance benefits and a new office.
Nobody responds within the set time scales to anything, be it a complaint, enquiry, FOI request or question re a planning application.
Our services are shrinking by the week, my 88 year old mother is now completely housebound when I am at work. There is no solution to this and I am very worried her health will decline. CEC don't care about this. They do care however about refurbishing the Town Hall, turning out the furniture, fixtures and fittings and renewing them all just a few months ago, around the time they were further reducing our bus services.
Don't get me started on the state of the roads.
So basically we are paying our Council Tax to administer Cheshire East Council, there must be something that can be done when residents are so seriously affected by the cuts.
Don't worry, Cheshire East have a plan to stop the cuts.
They are going to put your council tax up by 4.9%.
This money will also fund the extra infrastructure needed to support all these new houses. CE have admitted that council tax and government funding does not cover the cost of services to people, so all these new homes mean stretching their budgets even further - hence the need for the big council tax rise.
Still, I'm sure your pay or pension will also rise by 4.9%, so whats the problem? Won't it?
Unfortunately, there is nothing to be done till May 2019 and the next local election though.
Still, their new office furniture is nice.
[ and Re 4.9 % proposed Tax Rise, translated into CEC speak as a saving ! ] “A Tax is the best form of defence ”
CEC.... once more corroborating Sir Humphrey Appleby’s trusted political theorem....