Reform to retain £176k flagship managing director despite previous concerns

Reform will retain a Derbyshire council’s £176,000 flagship managing director role, despite previous concerns over the cost, after advice from fellow party leadership from other authorities.

Cllr Alan Graves, Reform leader of Derbyshire County Council, said he would be retaining the “CEO” position going forward, following the resignation of Emma Alexander, who is set to leave to join Tameside Council in November.

This comes despite Cllr Graves saying in a Facebook post sharing an article from the Local Democracy Reporting Service in September 2021, announcing the return of the “chief executive” role: “Makes you wonder where the Conservatives in Derbyshire are going to find the money for this new highly expensive person, especially after they removed the post four years ago.”

Meanwhile, Reform’s Cllr Sam Redfern, now cabinet member for children and families, had said in an election leaflet that the council “wastes money” on its managing director salary.

The “chief executive” role of £138,000 was scrapped in 2017 by the Conservatives but was brought back by the party in its second administration with a higher salary of £176,000 and rebadged “managing director” in 2021.

The Conservative council leader at the time, Barry Lewis, had said that no role in local government should have a salary higher than the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister is now entitled to a total salary of £172,153 – £91,346 for being an MP and an additional £80,807 for being Prime Minister – with Keir Starmer claiming £166,786.

It also comes as Cllr Graves this week informed staff that the candidates for the interim managing director were all turned down by a panel of councillors, leaving the authority back at square one.

A second window for internal applicants is now to take place before the council considers expanding to external prospects.

In an email to staff, Cllr Graves said: “As you will be aware, Emma Alexander is to leave her position on October 26, and we had previously issued an internal advertisement for an interim chief executive.

“Interviews were subsequently held last week, and the outcome was that we were unable to find an appointable candidate.

“As a result, we are now seeking further internal applications.

“My preference is to find a suitable internal candidate rather than look externally at this stage.”

Asked about this issue and the retained managing director post, Cllr Graves said: “Unfortunately the candidates weren’t successful. I want an interim CEO and I want to appoint one internally. 

“I also want to appoint a permanent CEO and that will be external, although people internally can apply, because I have a particular direction in mind for that.

“Since then (the September 2021 post), I have been advised that a CEO is essential for an authority of this size and that is following conversations with other authorities which are Reform-led.”