Abuse scandal troubleshooter to run council
BIRMINGHAM City Council’s new interim chief executive is the woman sent in by Government to clean up Rotherham in the wake of the child sexual exploitation scandals.
Stella Manzie was also a senior civil servant in Alex Salmond’s Scottish government between 2008 and 2011.
Now, barely a month since Birmingham chief executive Mark Rogers left, she has been appointed as his interim replacement.
She is taking on a council which has struggled to recover from the Trojan Horse scandal, a persistent failure on child protection, and has been unable to deliver cuts demand- ed by Government.
One of her key duties will be to begin a re-organisation of the council, which will see up to 4,000 staff cut and savings of £40 million delivered over the next two years.
The Post understands that, unlike previous temporary appointees and consultants, she will be taking the same £180,000-a-year salary as Mr Rogers.
John Clancy, leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “This is a crucial appointment and I am delighted with the progress we have made.
“Stella Manzie has a long and successful record of achievement at the top of local and national government. Stella’s career demonstrates an impressive record of driving transformation and change. I am confident, subject to approval by the city council on April 4, that Stella will provide strong leadership as we embark on the search for a permanent chief executive.
“With other changes to senior management now in place, it is clear Birmingham City Council has an exceptionally strong team of officers to take us forward on the next stage of our improvement journey.”
Ms Manzie will remain in post until a permanent appointment, expected in the autumn. She will be eligible to apply for that role.
Opposition Conservative leader Robert Alden welcomed the appointment.
He warned: “She will face a tough task trying to deliver the savings targets the Labour administration had previously given up on, and trying to clear the directorate overspends of £68 million that Labour have built up, while also trying to transform and modernise services.
“However, her track record shows she is the right person to do the job.”