CE statement on Investigation Committee chair

Cheshire East have issued the following statement following the stepping down of Howard Murray, who had been chairing the authority's Investigation and Disciplinary Committee (IDC), as reported here last week.

Councillor Howard Murray's committee roles

Further to Cheshire East Council's media release of Wednesday 11 April 2018, regarding Councillor Howard Murray's committee roles, the council wishes to provide further clarification to address erroneous public speculation on this matter.

A spokesperson for the council said: "As previously stated, Cllr Murray has been asked to stand down from his committee duties because of concerns about actions he took while serving on the authority's Investigation and Disciplinary Committee (IDC). The concerns do not relate to his work on the Cheshire Police and Crime Panel.

"However, Cllr Murray has been asked to stand down from both committees as a neutral and precautionary measure to avoid any concerns of a similar nature arising in respect of any ongoing work of either of those two committees while the matter is considered further.

"We would also like to be very clear that the decision to ask Cllr Murray to stand down from his committee duties is entirely unconnected to observations/concerns he may have about the issue of making severance payments to officers who are subject to disciplinary processes.

"Finally, the council can confirm, again, that the former director of legal services resigned with immediate effect and did not receive any severance payment."

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