Suspended Cheshire East chief executive resigns

Mike Suarez, Cheshire East’s chief executive, has resigned from his post more than a year after he was first suspended by the council.

Suarez was suspended in April last year following concerns about his conduct, although no further details as to the reasons behind his suspension have been released by the local authority, which said it was “a neutral act taken in the interests and both the council and chief executive”.

Suarez offered his resignation in an open letter to the Crewe Chronicle this week, but did not disclose the reasons why he had quit.

Cllr Margaret Simon, acting chair of the cross-party investigation and disciplinary committee, said a two-day hearing was due to start into Suarez’s conduct on 11 July. However, following his resignation, the disciplinary committee will no longer proceed.

Cllr Simon said: “It is confirmed that Mr Suarez resigned on 9 July 2018 with immediate effect and without notice. The resignation was accepted by Kath O’ Dwyer, acting chief executive on 10 July. Mr Suarez will receive his contractual and statutory entitlement to outstanding holiday pay and salary to 9 July 2018.

“The IDC reconvened at Macclesfield Town Hall at 10.30am [on 11 July]. However, as the IDC can only deal with matters in relation to existing statutory officers of the council, there is no need to proceed with the disciplinary hearing, due to the resignation of Mr Suarez.”

Suarez was paid during his suspension, but will not receive a payoff for quitting the council.

Following Suarez’s suspension, Cheshire East’s head of legal services Bill Norman was suspended in July last year, while Peter Bates, chief operating officer, was also suspended in December.

Norman resigned in December 2017 following his suspension, ending the investigation into his conduct.

Your Comments

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It used to be said that Britain is a nation of shopkeepers.

These days it seems more apt to say that Britain is a nation of public and third sector chief executives on three figure salaries.

And for all the “talent” these salaries are supposed to attract, the UK’s public services have never looked less well run. At least in terms of what they were supposed to do.

By Mike

^ Here here.

By DJ

Suspended over a year ago? Presumably on full pay, and only now resigns after he’s filled his pockets? Another disgraceful waste of public money if that’s whats happened

By John

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