Two council executives to step aside after months of turmoil
THE two highest-ranking executive officers at Amber Valley Borough Council have announced they are stepping down, after months of turmoil within the authority.
In what appears to be a joint action Sylvia Delahay, Amber Valley’s executive director for resources, and Julian Townsend, executive director of operations, have both handed in their notice to retire from the council, which covers villages such as Turnditch and Kirk Langley.
Both officers are understood to have notice periods of six months, meaning that they will be out of their roles in September.
The joint move is the latest twist in a turbulent period within Amber Valley, much of which revolves around the council’s straitened financial position. A steadily increasing deficit in the Labour-run council’s budget has led to services across the borough being scaled back, with the warning of further cutbacks to come.
Speculation has been rife for some time that continued financial struggles within the council would lead to council officers being forced to bring in emergency powers to reduce spending, in effect placing the council into bankruptcy measures.
Towards the end of last year this grew with further doubts over the future of key services throughout the borough. This was followed in January this year with the news that the council was to pull funding for affordable homes in Belper in a cost-saving move.
And in March it emerged that hundreds of thousands of pounds may have been lost through “systemic failures” in internal systems designed to keep track of contributions from firms towards affordable housing development by the council.
At the time an internal report was issued within the council in which Sylvia Delahay described the “extremely serious position for the council both financially and reputationally” that had resulted in the need for serious measures to cut back on spending.
She added: “Without action to address the projected budget deficits the council will be faced with considering an unbalanced budget as soon as 2021-22, which would be unlawful.”
With a third of the council up for election on May 6, tensions over financial difficulties within the authority are likely to be taken into the polling booths.
Of the 15 wards up for election in May, 11 are currently held by Labour councillors.
At present the council is led by the Labour group, which controls 24 out of 45 seats.
Whichever party is in control of the council after the elections on May 6 will be tasked with finding replacements for the officers, who currently share a role which in other authorities is held by one chief executive officer.
An Amber Valley Borough Council spokesperson said: “The two executive directors have submitted their notice to retire from the council at the end of September.”
Kevin Buttery, leader of the Conservative group on the council, said: “I was very sorry and somewhat shocked to hear that both executive directors had tendered their resignation, a decision I am sure they did not take lightly.
“They have given great service to Amber Valley Borough Council for over a decade. However, over the last couple of years it became apparent that advice and direction was being sought from people outside the organisation, which totally undermined their position.
“Losing two experienced and valuable members of staff at such a critical time can only add to the council’s current financial crisis.”
Councillor Chris Emmaswilliams, leader of the Labour group, said: “It came as a real shock to me. I’ve got full respect for Julian and Sylvia for what they’ve done for the authority and support their decision. If it’s the right time for them I fully support that decision.”
Neither officer provided a comment.