Wirral Council is set to appoint its current finance director, Matthew Bennett, as the new interim chief executive. The proposed appointment, which includes a salary package of £235,000, will be presented for approval at a full council meeting on October 13.
This significant leadership change comes as the current chief executive, Paul Satoor, remains absent from his post due to ill health since June. The move is part of a wider series of adjustments within the council's senior management team, which has seen several high-profile departures and new appointments in recent months.
Key Takeaways
- Matthew Bennett, Wirral Council's finance director, is the recommended candidate for interim chief executive.
- The role carries a total salary and pension package of £235,971, matching the current chief executive's pay.
- The appointment follows the extended absence of chief executive Paul Satoor, who has been off work due to ill health since June.
- The change is part of a broader leadership shuffle, including a search for a new regeneration director.
- This leadership transition occurs amid ongoing scrutiny of major regeneration projects, particularly in Birkenhead.
Proposed Leadership Appointment
Wirral Council's staffing committee has formally recommended that Matthew Bennett take the helm as the interim chief executive. Mr. Bennett has served as the council's Director of Finance for nearly three years, a period during which he has managed the local authority's budget and financial strategy.
If councillors approve the recommendation at the upcoming meeting on October 13, Mr. Bennett is expected to assume the new responsibilities the following week. The council has been actively seeking a candidate for the interim position since August.
In a statement, the council highlighted the value Mr. Bennett would bring to the top administrative role.
The council said Mr. Bennett “brings a wealth of experience, leadership, and understanding to the role."
Questions regarding the recruitment process for a new finance director to fill Mr. Bennett's current position have been raised. The council is expected to outline its plans for this key financial role should the appointment be confirmed.
Salary and Remuneration
The proposed salary for the interim chief executive is £235,971. This figure includes pension contributions and is identical to the remuneration package of the current chief executive, Paul Satoor.
Transition Follows Chief Executive's Absence
The need for an interim leader arose after the current chief executive, Paul Satoor, went on an extended leave of absence in June. An internal email circulated at the time, and later confirmed by a councillor in a public statement, cited ill health as the reason for his absence.
Since June, Jason Gooding, the Director of Neighbourhoods, has been covering the duties of the chief executive. According to the council's communication, this temporary arrangement was put in place to “ensure continuity until the chief executive returns.”
The appointment of Mr. Bennett as a dedicated interim chief executive signals a more formal and long-term approach to managing the council's leadership during Mr. Satoor's continued absence.
Wider Shake-up in Senior Management
The change at the top is the latest in a series of significant shifts within Wirral Council's senior leadership team over the past year. The authority is also in the process of recruiting a new Director of Regeneration.
This follows the departure of the previous director, Marcus Shaw, in August. A report from an October 7 staffing committee meeting revealed that councillors had privately agreed to recruit an interim director on August 12.
Mr. Shaw's departure was confirmed just days before the publication of a critical internal investigation report related to a major project under his department's purview. He has not provided a public comment on the matter.
Timeline of Recent Leadership Changes
- May: Cllr Paula Basnett is elected as the new political leader of the council.
- June: Chief Executive Paul Satoor begins an extended absence due to ill health.
- July: It is revealed that Regeneration Director Marcus Shaw is absent from work.
- August: The council begins its search for an interim chief executive and confirms Mr. Shaw's departure.
- October: Matthew Bennett is recommended as interim chief executive, and a search for a new regeneration director is formally approved.
Scrutiny Over Birkenhead Regeneration Project
The changes in the regeneration department are closely linked to significant issues with the Birkenhead town centre regeneration scheme. The project has faced substantial delays and financial overruns, with its estimated cost now standing at approximately £24 million.
The scheme's problems have drawn criticism from both the public and elected councillors. An internal investigation highlighted serious issues with the project's management and oversight.
Despite the issues occurring under his department's watch, Conservative councillor Ian Lewis has publicly stated his belief that both former director Marcus Shaw and chief executive Paul Satoor were not aware of the full extent of the problems with the scheme.
An independent external investigation into the project's failings is scheduled to begin shortly. Furthermore, a comprehensive review of several other regeneration projects across the borough is expected to be published in the coming weeks, potentially revealing more challenges for the council's new leadership team.
These developments, combined with the appointment of a new political leader, Councillor Paula Basnett, in May, create a new and challenging landscape for the incoming interim chief executive.