Six-month role for new council boss

Scarborough Council is to appoint a new chief executive to head the authority – for six months, before the council will cease to exist as part of local government reorganisation plans.

This summer Scarborough Council’s chief executive, Michael Greene, announced that he would be leaving his position for a new job as managing director of Stockton-on-Tees Council.

It was announced that Mr Greene would be taking up his new role “following completion of [his] notice period” with Scarborough Council.

It has now been revealed that the authority will soon be appointing his successor.

According to documents published on Scarborough Council’s website, an appointments committee will meet on Monday October 10 to discuss the appointment of a new chief executive and head of paid services.

Potential candidates have not been publicly named and a report with detailed plans for the meeting has not been published.

A recommendation that the public is excluded from the committee’s meeting is also in place as the “disclosure of exempt information” is likely to occur.

Scarborough Council has said that the details of the committee’s decision – and the arrangements that will be put in place – will be announced in due course.

The committee’s decision will also be subject to a vote by all councillors, with the next full meeting of the authority scheduled for Monday November 7.

From April 2023, borough councils will cease to exist when a new North Yorkshire Council replaces them as part of the local government reorganisation plans for devolution in the county.

Heading that new authority as its chief executive officer will be Scarborough-born Richard Flinton, currently the county council's chief.

However, local authorities are legally required to have a chief executive to “ensure that all the authority’s functions are properly coordinated as well as organising staff and appointing appropriate management”.

Those expected to attend the appointment committee’s meeting include the council leader Cllr Steve Siddons, Cllr Liz Colling, Cllr Heather Phillips, Cllr Janet Jefferson and Cllr Mike Cockerill.

According to the council website, other expected attendees include senior administrative staff such as council director Lisa Dixon, deputy monitoring officer Carol Rehill, and departing chief executive Mr Greene.

Mr Greene was appointed to the top position at Scarborough Council in 2019; the role was advertised with a salary of £112,000.

Announcing his departure in July, Mr Greene, 38, said the decision to leave Scarborough Council was “difficult” and that he was “very sad to leave”.

His new job was advertised in April with a salary of up to £159,000.