Cheshire East is remaining tight-lipped over when it plans to appoint a new chief executive after Rob Polkinghorne left the council by mutual agreement in June following a six-month absence.

The matter was raised by visiting councillor Ken Edwards (Bollington, Lab) as the strategic risk register was being discussed at yesterday's (Thursday) cabinet meeting.

Risks on the register are those which materially threaten the organisation's ability to achieve its strategic goals.

Cllr Edwards said: "I strongly support the steps taken so far to bring Cheshire East into a more focused position on the changes necessary to regain effectiveness as a local government authority, both in quality of service, as we just heard, and financial health, as we heard previously.

"A key risk in going forward with the ambitious plans for change over the next two to three years, however, is the inevitable perception, I think, at the moment, that Cheshire East does not have settled professional leadership."

CIPFA's (The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy) recent review of Cheshire East recognised the council has made many improvements over the past few months.

But it also stated: "Leadership fragility remains a significant risk.

"Two of the three statutory officers are in interim or temporary roles, and the executive director post covering adults has not been backfilled whilst the postholder acts as CEO."

Cllr Edwards asked why this was ignored in the report before cabinet.

"What are cabinet's plans, if any, to settle the professional leadership of Cheshire East Council over this period – that's the three years to bring us out of the need for exceptional financial support – or are they planning to appoint a new CEO in that period up to May 2030?" he asked.

Finance portfolio holder Dawn Clark (Crewe, Lab) said leadership and management is identified as a strategic risk on the register and the situation had improved.

She said this followed recruitment to several senior roles, including the director of law and governance, director of people, director of transport and infrastructure, and the head of transformation

"Recruitment to the senior management structure, including the chief exec role, is already identified as a mitigating action," said Cllr Clark.

"The register also notes that the appointment of the permanent executive director of place is expected to follow the appointment of a new chief exec."

She added: "The strategic risk register is not the place for detailed employment or recruitment decisions…

"Decisions on senior appointment structure and leadership capacity will be made through the council's established governance and recruitment processes and communicated clearly at the appropriate time."

Cheshire East has had eight chief executives, including interims and the current acting CEO Helen Charlesworth-May, since it was formed in 2009.

The council paid a whopping £37,736 just to recruit Mr Polkinghorne.

He joined in January 2024 but left by mutual agreement in June this year following an absence of six months during which time the council said he was unwell.