Cash-strapped Cheshire East is remaining tight-lipped over how much extra it is costing to employ interim bosses to top posts because it hasn’t been able to recruit permanent staff, writes Belinda Ryan.
The council has haemorrhaged bosses over the past couple of years – including assistant chief executive Dami Awobajo who left in June last year, just three months after being appointed.
At present three of the top posts – chief executive, monitoring officer, and executive director of place – are all occupied by temporary staff.
Two months ago, Cheshire East extended the contract of the interim monitoring officer until October at a whopping cost of £1,121 a day.
This comes after two failed attempts last year to recruit a permanent monitoring officer, with an advertised annual salary of £85,883 to £115,826.
According to the most recent document posted on the website outlining the council’s senior officer structure, numerous jobs just a rung or two down the ladder are also being filled by interims.
These are:
interim director of people
interim head of transformation and improvement
interim head of service – cared for children and care leavers
interim head of service – emergency duty team, front door and domestic abuse
interim head of service – education, SEND and inclusion transformation
interim principal social worker
The posts of director of transport and infrastructure and head of housing are both down as vacant.
The council’s chief executive Rob Polkinghorne has been absent since December.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked how many top roles were being covered by interims and how much extra it was costing.
The council was also asked whether agencies were used to recruit to these posts and, if so, how much that had cost.
A Cheshire East Council spokesperson said: “Three positions in our corporate leadership team are being covered by highly experienced interim officers to ensure that statutory functions and essential services for Cheshire East residents are uninterrupted, pending permanent recruitment to these roles.
“Improving senior leadership capacity and stability is a key priority for the council.
“We are currently actively recruiting to a number of senior officer roles, including the executive director of place, director of people and director of law and governance.”
The LDRS also asked how long a chief executive is entitled to full pay while absent because of sickness and how long they are entitled to half pay.
The council spokesperson said: “As previously stated, Rob Polkinghorne, chief executive of Cheshire East Council, is currently unwell and is not in work.
“In Mr Polkinghorne’s absence, the chief executive’s delegations and duties are being covered by Helen Charlesworth-May, executive director for adults, health and integration, supported by the corporate leadership team.
“We would ask that when any employee is unwell and is not able to work, that their privacy is respected.”
Obviously CEC can only employ interim personnel and it’s the ratepayers who are funding this farce.