Extra job to give town hall chief healthy pay rise
ROCHDALE council’s chief executive is in line for a bumper pay rise - after taking on a job with the NHS.
Steve Rumbelow has been appointed to the role of accountable officer for local health body Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Clinical Care Commissioning Group.
It comes after a number of council and NHS functions were merged in a massive shake-up of health and social care in Rochdale as part of the £6bn Greater Manchester devolution deal.
Several other councils have carried out similar mergers recently.
When asked by the Observer how much extra Mr Rumbelow, who earns a basic salary between £128,000 and £133,000 in his role as chief exec, would be paid HMR CCG said ‘no confirmation of any additional remuneration can be made at this point’.
But it’s understood when chief execs from other local authorities have taken on similar roles they received about an extra £50k.
Mr Rumbelow will take on duties carried out by HMR CCG’s former chief officer Simon Wootton, who earned a basic salary between £115,000 and £120,000.
Mr Wootton left the organisation last month
Dr Chris Duffy, chair of HMR CCG, said the merger will help improve services and save money.
He added: “This is a key part of our ambitious plans to transform the way we provide health and social care services across the borough of Rochdale, as part of the Greater Manchester devolution deal, and having a single accountable officer is in line with the approach of other councils and CCGs across the region.
“These new management arrangements were approved by the council and CCG last year.
“The creation of a single budget and a single commissioning function will ensure we deliver better services across local communities, reduce health inequalities and save money.”
In a statement in the CCG said: “This change is to complement the integration of health and social care commissioning in the borough and to front the joint leadership team that is now in place.
“These changes help to streamline the planning and purchasing of services for the benefit of local people. Integration makes better use of public funds by reducing duplication of functions and roles and by joining up budgets.
“There are other joint roles that have been born from the plans including a Director of Integrated Commissioning, Sally McIvor.”
Last week Rochdale councillors approved Mr Rumbelow taking on the additional duties.
A report stated: “This recommendation is made in the considered belief that through undertaking the additional role the effect on the council and the borough of Rochdale will be positive and that the additional responsibility will not detract from the chief executive’s focus on the needs of the council.”