Bill for town hall investigation reaches £450,000
CHESHIRE East has spent nearly half a million pounds so far investigating its own top officers and paying for replacements for those suspended on full pay.
The investigation, which began in April of last year, is expected to have cost nearly three quarters of a million by the end of this April.
At present, there is no indication of when it will be completed.
The figures were revealed after Coun James Nicholas, from Bollington, asked for an update on the cost at last month’s meeting of the full council.
Coun Paul Bates, cabi- net member for finance and communication emailed all councillors this month, saying: “The Investigation and Disciplinary Committee (IDC) is being supported by external investigators and temporary staffing arrangements which, up to November 2017, had cost £110,000.
“In addition, as suspensions have occurred, it has been important to minimise the potential for these neutral acts to impact on service delivery, and to ensure that the organisation also continues to meet its statutory responsibilities.
“As we have said before, suspension is a neutral act and we have a legal responsibility to continue to pay officers suspended while investigations are completed.
“Up to November, 2017, the costs of acting up arrangements had therefore cost £346,000. The total cost to the end of November is, therefore, £456,000.”
He added: “The estimated costs to the end of 2017/18, which reflect the resignation of the director of legal services and monitoring officer, are anticipated to be in the region of £720,000.”
The IDC - which consists of a cross-party panel of councillors – is looking into allegations concerning officer conduct.
Three top officers - chief executive Mike Suarez, chief operating officer Peter Bates and director of legal services Bill Norman – were suspended.
Mr Suarez, who was suspended in April and Mr Bates, who was suspended in December, remain off work.
Mr Norman, who was suspended in July, resigned in December.
The council has stressed the suspensions are a neutral act taken in the interests of the council and the individuals.
Coun Nicholas said: “I did ask the council for a detailed breakdown, so we’re still unsure whether these costs include headhunting cost or whether it includes the costs of the legal fees for the officers.”
The Express understands the council is not paying the legal fees of the officers who are being investigated.