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Politician's fear over future of council
RIVAL politicians have warned South Ribble Council could become a 'rudderless ship' unless its future is sorted out soon.
Chief executive Jean Hunter announced her resignation last month, but council leaders have still not revealed who will replace her.
And speculation was rife today that the post may not be filled at all, with the possibility that the authority could even end up sharing a chief executive with neighbouring Chorley Council.
Both councils today remained tight-lipped on the rumours, although South Ribble's leader Coun Margaret Smith said Mrs Hunter's departure was an 'opportunity to explore all options'.
Matthew Tomlinson, Leader of South Ribble Council's Labour group, said the council could be left 'rudderless' unless a decision is made soon.
He said: "With all that's been going on in the last two to three years, our chief exec resigning is not exactly a surprise.
"I am a little surprised that the Conservative leadership didn't have a plan in place already to deal with this sort of thing."
In 2006, the council considered a bid to merge with nearby Preston Council to create a single authority. The bid was thrown out after councillors voted against the decision.
Councillors now are distancing themselves from similar proposals this time.
However, the authority already shares many of its services with Chorley Council, including financial and assurance services.
It also contracts out waste and recycling collection, leading to speculation the council could be set to share a chief executive with Chorley.
A spokesman for Chorley Council said they could not comment on the rumours.
Coun Alan Best, who represents the Kingsfold ward, and recently defected from the Conservative party to join the Liberal Democrats, said: "When people on a high salary leaves a position at time like this there must be questions asked if this is a saving opportunity.
"We lost two of the directors on the executive last year and they were not replaced, to save money.
"My own view is that you have to draw the line somewhere. South Ribble need to be an independent borough council.
"If you start sharing a chief exec there's all sort of things you give away, like being able to set your own budget. It's hard enough already to get people to agree.
"It would be over my dead body you give up the independence just because the chief exec is leaving."
Coun Tomlinson said: "The Conservative administration was brought in on a strong promise of keeping South Ribble independent.
"It would be interesting to see how they keep to that.
"While it's very difficult for us to say exactly what should be done, we would like to see strong leadership remaining in South Ribble. That would mean going out and finding a replacement for Jean.
"Jean has guided the council through some very choppy waters over the last 10 years and her contribution has been immeasurable."
Leader of South Ribble Borough Council, Coun Margaret Smith, said: "Jean's impending departure is an opportunity to explore all options. Members decided to delegate responsibility for doing so to the cabinet at our last council meeting.
"Our cabinet boasts strong leadership with a wealth of local government and business expertise, and it has vast experience of making the right decisions for South Ribble and its taxpayers. We will consider the avenues open to us and make a decision in due course.
"It would be wholly inappropriate to comment further until that decision has been made."
Mrs Hunter will continue to serve out her statutory three-month notice period before taking up a similar post at South Cambridgeshire District Council in October.
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Weather for Leyland
Thursday 24 May 2012
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Temperature: 14 C to 20 C
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