City council acting chief wants pay-off
THE £157,000-a-year acting head of Stoke-on-Trent City Council is seeking a pay-off after claiming his role is untenable, The Sentinel can reveal.
Chris Harman has been on paid sick leave since failing to become the authority's permanent chief executive two weeks ago.
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Chris Harman
Now lawyers are in talks over an unspecified pay-off to end Mr Harman's time at the council.
News of the negotiations come as it emerges that his successor, John van de Laarschot, is now spending two days a week at the civic centre in an advisory role.
Mr van de Laarschot is not picking up a salary, but travel and hotel costs are being met by city taxpayers.
In the meantime talks are continuing with Mr van de Laarschot's employers, Torridge District Council, to persuade them to release him from his contract.
If successful, the former Coca-Cola and Pepsi boss could be running the city as soon as next month.
It would leave the cash-strapped council having to find cash to pay-off Mr Harman, come to a deal with Torridge and pay Mr van de Laarschot sooner than expected.
Mr Harman has been interim chief executive for the past year and was down to the last three in the battle to land the £195,000-a-year permanent post.
But he was expected to have stepped down to his previous assistant chief executive position after missing out on the top job.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council today repeated its official line that Mr Harman is on leave, and remains the council's interim chief executive.
But council sources expect a deal to be thrashed out within days which would allow Mr Harman to leave and pave the way for Mr van de Laarschot's early arrival.
One council figure said: "Talks about a settlement have been going on since Chris Harman first went on leave. He says his position became untenable when councillors on the interview panel chose not to back him for the permanent job, as he felt he could not carry on knowing they did not support him."
Urgent managerial decisions are being taken by the authority's director of regeneration, Tom Macartney, in consultation with Mr van de Laarschot.
Council leader Ross Irving declined to comment on the nature of negotiations with Mr Harman, or the likelihood of a pay-out being agreed.
He said: "It is a somewhat delicate situation. But we need to have discussions and make sure that whatever we do is the path to take."
But Potteries Alliance leader Councillor Peter Kent-Baguley said: "I think the interim chief executive should be at his desk.
"If he feels he hasn't got the support of the members, then he should resign."
Read more stories about Chris Harman and the situation at the city council:
Council facing costly dilemma over absence
Sentinel Leader column: You must be joking
City council acting chief wants pay-off
My quarrel is not with the staff – it's with the leaders
Martin Tideswell: Civic Centre panto continues to amaze – oh, yes it does
43 Comments
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by Mystic Mick, Staring into my crystal ball
Thursday, October 15 2009, 1:04PM
“I've been looking into the future and predict the following:
After Chris Harman has been given a big pay-off ( which he will get, because the powers that be at the council really are that daft) it will suddenly emerge that he has been given another job with another council.
Anybody willing to bet that I'm wrong?”
by David, Hanley
Wednesday, October 14 2009, 8:28PM
“We know two of the three on the shortlist were, would anyone care to guess who the third one was, bearing in mind we have a fair idea of the qualities of the selection panel.”
by Tim, Council Tax Payer
Wednesday, October 14 2009, 7:56PM
“Glad to see my hard earned concil tax is being put to good use.”
by John H, ST7
Wednesday, October 14 2009, 7:45PM
“This bloke's in the wrong place - he should be at Westminster with his snout in the trough along with all the other greedy swines”
by Bert Basset, Newcastle
Wednesday, October 14 2009, 6:59PM
“Why does everyone in this proud City of ours automatically assume that the Sentnel offers a baanced view of life?
As Eric Cantona said about the seagulls...............”
by karen P, Trentham
Wednesday, October 14 2009, 6:02PM
“I cannot believe that ANY resident of Stoke on Trent supports the disgraceful dereliction of duty that has been shown by Mr Harman. If he has not produced a statutory sick note from his G.P then he MUST be classed as absent from work with out permission just as would any other employed person. He has therefore surely broken his contractual obligations and I believe that our councillors would be within their legal right to terminate his employment for such a breach. As for receiving a pay off can anyone explain why he deserves one? He is employed as a deputy director, he took over a more senior role as a temporary measure and was able to apply for that position on a perminant basis. He has presumably been paid extra during his time as acting head of the council and he is able to resume his original position. How has he been injured? How can he justify any claim for a payoff? NOT ONE PENNY should be paid to this man and indeed if he has not been medically signed off as incapable of work then surely he owes Stoke on Trent two weeks wages!. Actions such as this surely prove that he would have been a disasterous appointment as head of our council, perhaps we have had a lucky escape?”
by Angelo, Dundee
Wednesday, October 14 2009, 4:58PM
“This thieving dog made the shortlist of just three people for the role, at first i was pleased that we got an outside guy in but if Mr Van de Laarschot is only one or two steps in front i am not so optimistic.”
by Steve, Longton
Wednesday, October 14 2009, 4:16PM
“Seems as though he enters into negotiations with the philosophy of heads I win tails you lose. If not getting a job makes him go on the sick then he obviously wasn't cut out for the job in the first place. Has he never heard of the idea of handing in your notice when you've had enough of your job?”
by E.B., Stoke
Wednesday, October 14 2009, 4:12PM
“What is the betting Harman has got a position with his old cronies who left earlier in the year in Cheshire,but is just trying to leave with a bucket full of our taxes.This parasite should be told to knuckle down to his job as deputy or resign.
Alas you can bet your bottom dollar he gets a big pay out,as all these slimy cronies stick together,and look after themselves.The new CE should make this his first priority,Get rid of harman at no expense to the tax payer.”
by norm, Newcastle
Wednesday, October 14 2009, 3:13PM
“This blokes got more face than the town hall clock. He wants handcuffing to a ghost, cheeky bleeder.”