Council chief quits £185k job amid child service fiasco

TOWN HALL TURMOIL AS DEPARTMENT JUDGED INADEQUATE’ AGAIN

- GEORGE LYTHGOE

SHOCKWAVES rippled through a town hall as the chief executive quit amid a children's services fiasco.

Last month, the government was told Tameside council doesn't have the 'capacity or capability' to improve the directorate 'without oversight and support! "Children's services in Tameside have been too weak for too long," a commissioner wrote.

Chief executive Sandra Stewart has stepped down from her £184,767-a-year job. She will become chief executive of the Greater Manchester Pension Fund.

Town hall bosses insist finding her replacement will not detract from the 'main job at hand' - improving the children's services department. The council received an 'inadequate' rating from Ofsted in February - the second in five years. Some children were described as being 'at risk of harm' The ongoing debacle was the main issue at Tuesday's full council meeting.

A private discussion was held, before it was announced director of resources Ashley Hughes would cover for Ms Stewart while a replacement was found.

Council leader Ged Cooney told the M.E.N. candidates will need a track record of turning around failing town hall departments. He said children's services in the borough have been failing since 2011, when Ofsted said the department 'required improvement!

Coun Cooney - who promised change under his leadership - added: "We would certainly thank Sandra for the work she has done for this borough.