LATEST: Finance and business director leaves Cheshire East Council (From Knutsford Guardian)

LATEST: Finance and business director leaves Cheshire East Council

10:25am Monday 18th February 2013 in News By David Morgan

Lisa Quinn, director of finance and business services, left the authority by ‘mutual agreement’ on Friday.

A SENIOR officer at Cheshire East Council has left her post as part of a radical management shake-up.

Lisa Quinn, director of finance and business services, left the authority by ‘mutual agreement’ on Friday.

Ms Quinn’s departure comes days after the council announced plans to axe 1,000 jobs - around a fifth of its workforce - to cut through bureaucracy and management overheads.

But Cheshire East Labour Group has pointed out that the move leaves the authority with a power vacuum.

Cheshire East Council is now without a permanent chief executive, deputy chief executive, head of legal or head of finance.

The deputy chief executive and head of legal services resigned simultaneously in December while Cheshire East’s chief executive Erika Wenzel resigned seven months ago.

Her post is being covered by interim chief executive Kim Ryley.

Council Leader Michael Jones said: “Lisa Quinn, director of finance and business services, left the council’s employment on Friday, February 15, by mutual agreement.

“This follows the departure of two senior managers during December.

“Arrangements are already in place to cover her role, while the council continues with the planned introduction of a new management framework, which will be less opaque, more accountable and effective and less costly.

“I would like to thank Lisa for her hard work and commitment to the job during her time at Cheshire East and I wish her well for the future.”

Clr David Newton, leader of the Cheshire East Labour Group, added: “The council is embarking on a major change in management structure.

“Staff are key to the success of this project. We must keep staff morale high.

“If you cannot carry the staff and have their confidence then there are serious problems.”

Cheshire East Council has said that the management restructure is in response to the Lyme Green scandal after £800,000 of taxpayers’ money was wasted by starting groundwork on a recycling plant without planning permission.

Clr Sam Corcoran, Labour spokesman, said: “The council has spent £100,000 on an independent report into Lyme Green but has refused to release the report.

“I have previously called for the report to be made public as soon as all staff disciplinary action is complete. I repeat that call now.

“The council is using Lyme Green as an excuse to rush into a major management restructuring, but actually the problems at Lyme Green were caused by rushing into things, cutting corners and breaking rules in an attempt to save money.”