West Norfolk Council offers £136,000 salary to chief executive replacement
West Norfolk Council is offering a £136,000 salary as it seeks to attract candidates to become the new head of the authority amid a major upheaval of its senior team.
This follows the announcement confirming that chief executive Lorraine Gore is retiring from her post after five years.
It has since been revealed that executive directors Debbie Gates and Geoff Hall also intend to leave their positions this year.
An advert posted on online job boards shows the authority is offering at least £136,000 for the role of chief executive, who is responsible for providing professional advice to councillors as well as being responsible for legal services, corporate strategy and performance management.
Borough council leader Terry Parish thanked Ms Gore for her hard work and said: “All organisations need to refresh themselves and this point in time is a golden opportunity for West Norfolk.
“A smooth handover can be made and the new person, whomever they may be, will have opportunities to determine how to best make changes in co-operation with councillors and staff representatives.”
Applications close on April 27.
The change in the senior team has already prompted a jostling for the leadership of the authority among councillors.
Cllr Alistair Beales has said he wishes to challenge Cllr Parish for the leadership of the ruling Independent coalition group this year.
In an internal email, he said that he believes that with the CEO and other senior officers leaving, it is “perfect timing” for a new leader of the council, saying he intends to devise a “20-year vision” that will reshape the authority.
Ms Gore notified staff in March that she intends to leave by early September.
She said: “It has been a privilege to hold the role in the area where I grew up and have lived for many years.”
She added that while “there have been challenges over the years” her team has faced these “head on” and ensured the authority delivered services to its communities.
