New chief is appointed

NORTHUMBERLAND County Council has acted swiftly to appoint a new head of paid service following the departure of Daljit Lally.

The controversial chief executive will leave the council at the end of July after councillors agreed a £209,000 settlement deal at an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday. Immediately following that decision, councillors voted by an overwhelming majority to appoint interim deputy chief executive Rick O’farrell to the role of interim chief executive.

Coun Eileen Cartie called for the council to return to a “member-led” organisation under Mr O’farrell’s leadership something echoed by deputy leader Coun Richard Wearmouth.

He said: “That is fundamental to everything we do. Rick has put this at the centre of everything he wants to do. He wants to turn it into a member-led organisation as it should be and as it always should have been. Northumberland should be the place everybody wants to be. We have a fantastic county to be proud of and there is so much optimism.”

According to a report published on the council’s website, Mr O’farrell will receive a full-time salary of £202,117 until a permanent appointment is made to the post of head of CEO. Coun Mark Mather, who represents Wooler, said the council should look at the salary of other officers if they were to pay the chief executive so highly. He said: “I think he is an excellent officer, but I’m sat here thinking what will other employees of the council be thinking at £202,000. The staff working day in day out we’re struggling to employ staff because of the pay band they’re in. If I was watching on the lowest pay band at home I would be very upset.”