COUNCIL SPENDS £250,000 ON NEW SENIOR MANAGERS
North Somerset Council has revealed plans to recruit a new permanent chief executive and head of finance at a cost of more than £250,000. The Conservative-run council has also appointed specialist recruitment consultants, at a cost to taxpayers of £27,000, to advise them on the process.
Councillor Mike Bell, Leader of the opposition Liberal Democrat Group, said: "Local taxpayers will be shocked to learn that, despite promises of a senior management review to cut spending, the council is pressing ahead with recruiting new top managers at a cost of a quarter of a million pounds.
"However, it is the payment of £27,000 to recruitment consultants to tell them how to compile a job advert and recruit the right staff that I find appalling. This is more than many local people earn in a year and is an insult to residents who are told there is no money to empty bins, clean our streets or repair our roads and pavements.
"There is also no evidence that the administration has explored other options, such as sharing the chief executive post with another organisation, or not having a senior chief at all. As usual, residents are presented with an expensive fair accompli."
A report on the recruitment will be considered by the council's Employment Committee next week and details can be found in the links below.
Appointment off Penna as recruitment consultants -: http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/…/uploa…/2018/07/18-19-CSD1.pdf
Employment Committee report -: http://apps.n-somerset.gov.uk/cairo/docs/doc29002.pdf