Council criticised as chief is to get £180,000 pay-off
ALOCAL authority has come under fire following news its chief executive will leave the council with a reported £180,000 pay-off.
Chief executive of Powys County Council Jeremy Patterson took longterm sick leave from his post in October 2017 amid the fallout from an inspection report that criticised the council’s children’s services.
Following a full council meeting on Thursday, July 12, the council confirmed Mr Patterson would leave the authority “by mutual consent” at the end of September.
It is understood he will receive a payment of £180,000, however, the council has not confirmed the details of any severance package.
James Price, campaign manager at the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said: “It’s completely unacceptable that someone should be given such an enormous amount of taxpayers’ money for the simple act of leaving a job.
“When you factor in previous failings of the council, the pay-off seems even less reasonable.
“No-one should be taxed under threat of imprisonment to feather the nest of council executives who have already earned significantly more than most of us can ever hope to earn.”
The Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) raised “serious concerns” within its report into children’s services at the council published in October last year.
The inspectorate body said there was evidence of missed opportunities to safeguard children and warned children were at risk of harm because of some failures.
The report said: “The lack of assessment, intervention and support, together with poor follow-up and oversight has and is placing children at considerable risk.”
Soon after the publication of the report, the council confirmed Mr Patterson went on unpaid leave from his £189,000-a-year role.
Mr Patterson joined Powys council in 1996 after a move from Shropshire. He has held a number of senior positions including group director corporate and democratic service and executive director regeneration and organisation.
He was appointed chief executive in 2009.
A Powys council spokesman said Dr Mohammed Mehmet was appointed acting chief executive in April 2018.
Council leader Rosemarie Harris said: “I would like to thank Jeremy for his contribution to the county council for more than 20 years.
“He joined us from Shropshire after local government reorganisation and held a number of very senior positions with us before being appointed chief executive in 2009.
“There is no doubt that during his time with Powys, local government has gone through tremendous changes and he has played a key role in the management of the council. We wish him and his family all the very best for the future.”