Chief executive post to be axed

At the council’s annual meeting on Monday, members confirmed a Cabinet decision to restructure the authority’s senior management.

The aim is to save the council more than £200,000 after it was left with a shortfall in central government funding expected to total £3.5 million within the next two years.

The post of chief executive is being deleted and replaced by two executive directors, each taking it in turn to hold the mandatory position of Head of Paid Service.

Chosen to fulfil these roles are the current director of services, Tony Leonard, and director of resources, Malcolm Johnston.

But Liberal Democrats on the Conservative-led authority claimed the shake-up had not previously been fully debated or scrutinised.

Cllr Kathryn Field said: “I cannot condone this decision”, while fellow Lib Dem Cllr Sue Prochak said she was “quite disturbed” by the process, adding: “There’s been hardly any discussion on this, no facts or figures beyond Cabinet.”

Council leader Cllr Carl Maynard said: “This wasn’t a decision taken lightly but a financial necessity to prevent cutbacks in front line services.”

Lib Dems called for a recorded vote on the decision in order to make it clear that they were against it and the manner in which it had been arrived at.

Mr Stevens has served the council for more than 40 years and has been chief executive since 2001. He will finalise his departure date over the next few weeks.

The nine heads of service will be invited to apply for the six remaining positions, with the successful half-dozen chosen by the end of the summer.

Rother has already shed more than 30 staff, but the council will look for further reductions from October once the new heads of service are in post.

Despite the poor financial climate, Rother has not raised its council tax and has the lowest rate in East Sussex.

The redundancy package for Mr Stevens will not be individually negotiated and will be worked out in just the same way as for other staff.

Cllr Maynard, who was confirmed as council leader until 2015, said: “I would like to thank Derek Stevens, and indeed all our staff, for the wonderful job they have done in extremely challenging financial circumstances over recent years.

“Our previous structure wasn’t wrong, but in the face of more cuts to our funding it is important we are in control; of the inevitable changes that will come and are not having decisions made for us.

“By making these difficult choices, we are endeavouring to ensure that our front line services are protected for those who need them most.”

Rother has some 200 staff and an annual budget of around £60 million