Council spends £32k on failed recruitment effort

A local authority has spent tens of thousands of pounds on a fruitless search for a new chief executive.

A Freedom of Information request revealed that West Northamptonshire Council had spent £32,430 on advertising the position.

Despite the Reform UK-controlled council attracting 106 applicants and shortlisting six candidates, none was appointed to the role.

A council spokesperson said a panel "was not persuaded" that it "had the right fit this time round", but insisted "the process was valuable and will be reflected upon when we revisit recruitment later this year".

A cross-party panel sat in on the final interviews.

Liberal Democrat group leader Jonathan Harris, who was on the panel, said the decision not to appoint any of the candidates was not unanimous.

Fellow panel member Daniel Lister, who leads the Conservative opposition group, said: "It is vital that we appoint the right leader to guide us through our next phase of development.

"I would rather we take the time to find the right person for West Northamptonshire than appoint someone who doesn't have the precise skills we need to move us to the next stage."

The council did not respond to questions on whether further rounds of the recruitment process would incur further costs to taxpayers.

In December, the council announced that interim chief executive Martin Henry – who stepped up from his role as chief finance officer – would continue in the role until the summer, when a second round of recruiting is expected to take place.

Since the last round of recruitment closed, neighbouring Buckinghamshire Council has begun a search for a new CEO, with that role reported to come with a £240,000-a-year salary – higher than the £200,000 a year advertised by West Northants.

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