Demand for statement
ANOTHER councillor has called for an urgent explanation over the continuing absence of a top officer.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council's interim chief executive, Chris Harman, pictured, has been away on leave since John van de Laarschot was appointed as his successor last week.
Council officials have said Mr Harman is still the interim chief executive, but have declined to comment on his whereabouts or when he is expected to return to work.
Councillor Mick Salih, spokesman for the Non-Aligned Group, said he wants a clear statement to reassure councillors and residents about what is happening.
He said: "The council is telling the media that he is still the interim chief executive, but councillors are not being told anything.
"Clearly there are important decisions still to be made and I would like to know who is now making them while Chris is away."
2 Comments
by Andi, Stoke
Monday, October 12 2009, 9:12AM
“.....and as the council gravy train kept on rolling down the hill , gradually speeding up on its path to destruction Mick Salih was heard to ask "who's driving ?"”
by HL Mencken, staffs moorlands
Saturday, October 10 2009, 11:31AM
“I have been away for a few days and heard about this on returning. What is it with some Councillors in Stoke? Over recent years some Councillors have been accused of false expense claims, downloading improper images on their computer, holocaust denying, sexual impropriety with officers, animal cruelty, turning up drunk outside residential homes in the early hours, fraud, engaging in acts of violence and now this. Have a missed anything? And yet many of them survive. I suspect that if you detonated a megatone device inside the Council Chambers they would emerge dust down their suits and carry on. The ability to survive a nuclear blast obviously puts them in the same league as Blattaria- the common cockroach although the insects have better PR.
In fact that might be part of the City Councils new coat of arms the cockroach rampant”