Stoke-on-Trent City Council's £200k-a-year chief leaves job

The chief executive of Stoke-on-Trent City Council has left his £200,000-a-year job, the authority has said.

John van de Laarschot was put on extended leave four weeks ago but his immediate exit was sealed at an extraordinary meeting of the council.

Council leader Dave Conway told the BBC it was "unacceptable" to have a chief executive who earns more than £200,000 a year.

Director of place David Sidaway will be interim head of paid service.

Mr van de Laarschot would receive £230,000, the council said.

He announced his departure as "an opportunity to look for a new challenge" after almost six years at the helm of the authority, a council statement, external said.

Mr Sidaway, a former director of development, business and customer services at Telford & Wrekin Council, will carry out the interim role alongside his current director post until March 2016.

A full review of the senior management team will be carried out with a new structure put in place from 1 April 2016.

More on this story and updates from Stoke-on-Trent

In October, Mr van de Laarschot was placed on leave while the council undertook a review of its senior management team.

Mr Conway called for the role of chief executive to be scrapped in his City Independent manifesto earlier this year.

BBC Radio Stoke's Staffordshire political reporter James Bovill said a source had claimed tensions between Mr Conway and Mr van de Laarschot were running high over the direction of the new administration.

Mr Conway said: "We have clear views for the future of the city council and reviewing our senior leadership team is part of our approach to have a strong member-led authority.

"Appointing an internal interim for the next five months allows us to provide stability for staff while at the same time it means we can consider our options in full as to what we require for the city council moving forward.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank John for his hard work over the last six years."

Mr van de Laarschot said he was "proud" of what had been accomplished, the city had emerged as one of the fastest growing economies in the UK and was "poised to take full advantage of the projected benefits of HS2".

He said: "We successfully fought for and won one of the largest government-funded city and growth deals in collaboration with the Local Enterprise Partnership and other strategic partners; the city centre has been rejuvenated with enhanced public realm and a growing retail, culture and leisure provision capped by the Smithfield central business district."