Cash-strapped Cheshire East is next week set to extend the contract of an interim monitoring officer until October – at a whopping cost to the council of £1,121 a day, writes Belinda Ryan.
The council needs about £28 million of exceptional financial support from the government to balance its books for 2026/27.
The contract extension of interim monitoring officer Kevin O’Keefe will further add to the authority’s financial woes, with a paper to next week’s full council saying it would result in a forecast overspend of more than £60,000 for the seven-month period in 2026/27.
On top of that, the overspend on that one temporary appointment for this financial year is expected to be more than £58,000 by the end of March 2026.
The paper states: “The cost of the interim director of governance and law, monitoring officer, from September 1, 2025, up to March 31, 2026, is forecast to be £151,352, with the full year cost of covering the role forecast to overspend by £58,191 against the 2025/26 budget.
“Extending the appointment from April 1, 2026, to October 31, 2026, at a rate of £1,121 per day, is forecast to cost £156,940.
“When compared to the pro-rata 2026/27 budget for this period (£96,622), it would result in a forecast overspend of £60,318 for the seven-month period in 2026/27.”
Cheshire East attempted twice last year to recruit a permanent monitoring officer, but no appointment was made.
When the permanent post was advertised the salary ranged from £85,883 to £115,826.
Interim appointments cost councils a lot more, but they have to stump up the extra cash because, by law, local authorities must have a monitoring officer.
The report states: “Mr O’Keefe is a highly experienced monitoring officer and former local authority chief executive.
“As part of the appointments committee process, authority was given to appoint to this post for up to one year.
“Mr O’Keefe’s appointment was made for an initial period of six months, with an end-date of the end of February 2026.”
It adds: “The recruitment market for monitoring officers is very challenging, with issues such as local government reorganisation placing high demands upon the pool of available candidates.
“In addition to this, the current post holder is involved in a number of high priority matters, and it is therefore essential to extend the period of his appointment.”
The meeting of the full council takes place at Tatton Park at 11am on Wednesday, February 25.
What about all of the road works on every single road in Crewe and Nantwich! When is someone going to sort this chaos out?
It’s alright saying if you don’t vote, you are playing into their hands. Everyone that’s been in opposition has said what the people want to hear, then as soon as they are in charge, their tune starts to change. The whole political system is corrupt
How much more money he can take from the constituents!
ever thought of trying to save money by getting a couple of volunteers to give some spare time to do the job then the council could save money its an idea
There goes .my years Council tax for one day’s monitoring!!
Probably a mug monitor making sure they get the use front the dishwashers they bought with our money
Until people start taking an interest and voting these idiots will continue to waste your money, if you don’t vote you are playing into their hands.
You couldn’t write it !!
What bunch of incompetent overpaid buffoons!
Why can CEC not fill the vacant post perhaps needs a comment and explanation?
Beggars belief CEC. The audacity of them needing assistance of £28 million support, AND wanting to increase our rates by 9.99% (only getting 5%), YET they are wasting PUBLIC money at cost of £1,121 PER DAY.
Maybe the Monitoring person is monitoring finances.
Get a grip CEC, the councillors should be sacked for incompetency. YOU’RE NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE. Load of bankers.
YEAH, let’s go to Tatton Park, on a jolly, to sign off the rates bill.
What does he monitor ? Asking for a friend.