24.08.18
Chief executive redundancy costs for Dorset merger could reach £1m
Redundancy costs for displaced chief executives as a result of an upcoming Dorset merger could reach as much as £1m.
The legal battle against the merger ended earlier this month as the main opponent to the proposals, Christchurch Borough Council, conceded defeat after a lengthy ongoing case that reached the High Court.
Information from the shadow overview and scrutiny committee meeting on Wednesday indicated that four chief executives could be out of work as a result of the proposals — with redundancy costs potentially running up to £1m.
Under the plans, Dorset’s nine councils will be scrapped in favour of two larger unitary authorities in a bid to save the county £108m over six years.
Christchurch will merge with Poole and Bournemouth district councils, with the second Dorset council being made up of West Dorset, Weymouth & Portland, Purbeck, Dorset County Council, East Dorset, and North Dorset authorities.
The new authority will be headed by a chief executive who will earn between £160,000 and £180,000. Chief executive of the Dorset Councils Partnership Matt Prosser is understood to be running for the role.
Interviews for the role will take place over the next two weeks. The appointment will be announced towards the end of September.
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Image credit: georgeclerk