Cheshire East director's £30k rise

We are grateful to our neighbouring website, Nantwich News, and local Audlem residents who brought it to our attention, for this story:

A Cheshire East Council director who presided over the much-criticised effort to deliver the Local Plan, is set to be promoted with a £30,000 pay rise.

Caroline Simpson (pictured) is set to move from "director of economic growth and prosperity" to "executive director of economic growth and prosperity", according to a report.

Under the move, her salary could leap from £90,000 a year to a potential £120,000.

And she could also be in line for a £10,000 performance-related bonus.

However, the decision has been blasted by furious councillors as Ms Simpson's department has overseen the "flawed" Local Plan over the last five years.

In a report, called "Senior Management Structure", council bosses have justified the move, saying it is "prudent to strengthen the strategic and operational capability of the council's structure".

And it says the new executive director role will "need to oversee enhanced delivery around core services such as assets, regeneration and planning".

But the report adds that the new role will be "ring-fenced" which means it will not be advertised externally.

Willaston and Rope Cllr Brian Silvester, blasted the move as an insult, and said ruling councillors had "taken leave of their senses" in passing the recommendation.

"The failed Local Plan has cost £3.7 million and has taken over five years and the officer in charge is set to be promoted and given a performance bonus?" he said.

"She has left the people of Cheshire East to the tender mercies of the developers.

"Precious green fields are being concreted over because of this self inflicted planning fiasco.

"For years the council has been saying it has a five-year supply of housing land but now they are openly admitting that they do not after the Local Plan was rubbished by the planning inspector.

"The consequence of that is developers cannot believe their luck as they get permission after permission on green fields."

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