Cheshire East suspends chief executive

Mike Suarez has been suspended from his position as chief executive of Cheshire East Council while an investigation into his conduct is carried out.

Concerns about Suarez’s conduct were considered at a meeting of the council’s investigation and disciplinary committee this week, leading to the decision to suspend Suarez while an independent investigation is undertaken.

Cllr Howard Murray, chair of the investigation and disciplinary committee, said: “We would stress that suspension is a neutral act taken in the interests of both the council and chief executive.

“It is important that this investigation is undertaken objectively and therefore it would be inappropriate to make any further comment at this stage.” No further details have been released by the local authority.

Suarez has been in post since 2013 and is a veteran of local government, having worked in Southwark, Slough, Westminster and, prior to taking up the Cheshire East role, as executive director of the London Borough of Lambeth.