A SECOND member of Cheshire East Council's senior management has been suspended as a result of an internal disciplinary investigation.

Bill Norman, the council's director of legal services and monitoring officer, has been absent from his post since April and has now been officially suspended.

The decision follows the suspension of council CEO Mike Suarez on April 27.

A CEC spokesman said: “The Investigation and Disciplinary Committee reconvened on Friday, July 14, 2017. The committee is considering allegations relating to the conduct of senior officers.

“As a result of Friday’s hearing, the decision has been taken to suspend the director of legal services and monitoring officer in order than an independent investigation is undertaken."

The chairman of the committee said: “We would stress that this suspension is a neutral act taken in the interests of both the council and the director of legal services and monitoring officer.

“It is very important that this investigation is undertaken objectively and therefore it would be inappropriate to make any further comment at this stage.”

In line with arrangements made by the staffing committee on April 27, an interim officer is covering Mr Norman’s role.

As confirmed in April, CEC has made temporary appointments for its positions of chief executive, section 151 officer, and monitoring officer and head of legal services.

The council confirmed that Jan Willis is being paid a pro-rata salary of £130,000 as acting section 151 officer so current officer Peter Bates can ‘focus on other responsibilities’.

Kath O’Dwyer has been appointed as acting chief executive follow the suspension of Mr Suarez over ‘officer conduct’ in April, and Daniel Dickinson has taken on the responsibilities of Mr Norman.

Mr Dickinson will be paid £2,621 a month on top of his existing salary for the duration of Mr Norman’s absence.