More on CE suspensions

Under Michael Jones' leadership, Cheshire East appeared regularly in Private Eye's Rotten Boroughs column. This week, for the first time in over a year, our local council reappears in that column. And it's related again to Michael Jones. Private Eye says:

"Physiogate", the aftermath of the Eye story that led to the resignation of Cheshire East (CEC) leader Michael Jones in 2015, rumbles on.

Eye 1403 revealed how valuable contracts had been awarded to Amanda Morris, the "close friend" and personal physio of Tory council leader Jones, bypassing normal tendering.

The council's newly formed investigation and disciplinary committee spent two days last week looking at the role of senior officers in the handling of the contract to CoreFit, Morris' firm.

The procedure has been shrouded in secrecy. It ended with suspension of chief exec Mike Suarez. Committee chairman Howard Murray said: "Suspension is a neutral act taken in the interests of both the council and chief executive."

The council has refused to say who was appearing before the committee, but we understand that as well as Suarez, head of legal services Bill Norman and Peter Bates, chief operating officer, were among those summoned. Being summoned to give evidence does not imply that any individual is subject to disciplinary measures.

Another officer due to attend was the council's communications supremo, Beverley Walkden. It was she who, in 2013, refused to answer legitimate questions from the Eye about allegations that a senior council officer had received free Manchester United tickets. She said: "Sometimes we don't respond to questions if there is nothing in it for us....if there is no upside for the council."

In 2015 it was revealed that she had breached her obligation to be politically neutral by composing partisan tweets for Jones (Eye 1384). Once very supportive of the CEC hierarchy, Walkden is less so now.

Last year, Andrew North, then head of internal audit, upset his political masters by pushing for an investigation into the handling of the CoreFit contract and bringing in Inspector Knacker, who is still investigating. North was not happy at the way he was treated by his superiors and wanted to bring a grievance against Suarez and Norman.

The Eye understands that Norman approached Walkden and asked if she could "dig the dirt" on North. Walkden refused and later found herself suspended. She has been absent since November.

Last month, members of the audit and governance committee were shocked to hear that North, who has been off sick since April 2016, had left CEC in February this year. Tory councillor David Marren told the meeting that North claimed to have been "bullied" and "forced out" of the council. A month later that meeting's minutes have yet to be published on the council's website. Also missing is the audio recording. What is someone trying to hide?

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