Huge leadership shake-up as local boss prepares to leave for crisis-hit council

A huge change could be coming to Oldham Council.

Chief executive, and the authority's highest-ranking non-elected decision maker, Harry Catherall is understood to have been head-hunted to help bail out Oldham’s crisis-ridden neighbours at Tameside Council.

Tameside’s leadership collapsed after a damning report to the government on the state of its children’s services prompted a slew of resignations. A commissioner found the authority doesn’t have the ‘capacity or capability’ to improve the department ‘without oversight and support’.

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In response, the council’s chief executive Sandra Stewart stepped down from her £184,767-a-year job after nearly two years, followed by the Labour council leader Ged Cooney.

While Coun Cooney is due to be replaced by Labour councillor Eleanor Willis on Thursday, October 24, and the chief executive role has been temporarily taken over by Tameside Council Director of Resources, Ashley Hughes, the GMCA and Tameside Council are looking for a fresh set of eyes to oversee the improvement of their services.

Harry Catherall has already overseen the transformation of Oldham’s children’s services, which was rated ‘good’ earlier this year, after being told it ‘required improvement’ in 2019.

Council leaders this week proposed to ‘timeshare’ Catherall’s leadership. The CEO, who has worked in local government for more than 40 years, currently works four days a week.

But under new plans, he will spend four days a week at Tameside and one day a week at Oldham council. Meanwhile, assistant chief executive Shelley Kipling will take the reins as acting chief for the next six months.

Coun Arooj Shah, leader of Oldham Council, said: “I’m really pleased that we are planning to appoint Shelley Kipling to this crucial role. Her experience, energy, and love for Oldham shone through the interview process. I have no doubt she will make a huge difference to Oldham and will be a fantastic support to Harry should these proposals move forward.”

Tameside will cover Catherall’s full four-day salary cost at £168k, with Oldham footing the bill for one day at around £40k. Meanwhile, the new CEO Shelley Kipling will receive a wage of £169,125, but with no plans at present to backfill her position as assistant chief, the reshuffle will save between £75k and £123k, according to the council’s assistant finance director Lee Walsh.

The decision has already ruffled some feathers among a number of councillors, who are concerned about the stability of the council and implications for residents.

Kamran Ghafoor of the independent Oldham Group said: “Oldhamers deserve a full time chief executive, we are in no position to SETTLE. … We are concerned for the implications it will have for the running of this council and the people of Oldham.”

But other council sources have suggested the head-hunting is a ‘vote of confidence’ for the local authority’s improvements in the last few years.

The final decision will be put to a vote at an extraordinary council meeting on Thursday, October 24. If the new arrangement is approved, Tameside council will decide whether to accept it on Tuesday, October 29.