Following the departure of Walsall Council chief executive, Dr Helen Paterson, Councillor Pete Smith has called for a public discussion on whether to now make the role redundant.
Dr Paterson, who has been chief executive of Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council for the last five years, is set to take up a new position as chief executive at Northumberland County Council.
Her role at Walsall Council is reported to cost £195k a year, a sum that Councillor Smith of Blakenall Ward feels could be unnecessary during the current cost of living crisis.
In an article from the Local Democracy Reporting Service, via the BBC, Councillor Smith said:
“Does Walsall Council really need another chief executive at a cost of around £200,000 per year, given that services have been cut to the bone, with many services outsourced and given that the council is apparently strapped for cash due to energy cost rises and that the Civic Centre is almost empty, with so many staff working from home, including staff paid at the highest level?
“On the one hand the council can afford to pay out this sort of money on one job, yet on the other hand impose even further cuts to services and even further rises in council tax bills from April 2023.”
“I think there should be a public discussion on this subject before council managers rush to find a replacement.”
Council leader Mike Bird congratulated Dr Paterson on her new role.