Criticism over seventh chief executive appointment in eight years

The appointment of Barking and Dagenham Council chief executive Chris Naylor as an interim chief executive for Birmingham City Council was approved by full council during an online meeting yesterday.

But Conservative councillors expressed concerns over “continuity”, and pointed out there have been seven chief executives since the Labour administration took control in 2012.

Council leader Ian Ward hit back, saying it is not “the moment to be scoring political points” and said councillors could be confident the right decision has been made.

Mr Naylor was brought on for the £221,000 role after three candidates were interviewed in February, but none matched the city’s high expectations, council leader Ian Ward said in March.

Mr Naylor will be at the helm for a year, taking over from acting chief executive Dr Graeme Betts. The council will re-advertise for the permanent role from May.

Birmingham’s former finance chief Clive Heaphy had previously been acting as interim chief executive for six months but quit in March after failing to land the role permanently.

Mr Heaphy took up the role after the council’s previous chief executive Dawn Baxendale quit after 16 months in July last year to become chief executive for Christchurch City Council on New Zealand’s South Island.

Previously, Birmingham City Council was headed by Stella Manzie (interim), Angela Probert (acting) and Mark Rogers, who was appointed in 2014.

Prior to that, Stephen Hughes acted as chief executive for nine years.

Stability

Conservative Councillor Alex Yip, representing the Sutton Wylde Green ward, said: “Since the current Labour administration took control of the council in May 2012, this will be our seventh chief executive, of which four were acting or interim, and four serving less than a year.

“In comparison, from 2004 to 2012 under the Conservative and Liberal Democrat administration there was only one change of chief executive in 2005, which means there was one chief executive in place from 2005 all the way to 2014.

“My comment and concerns are how is this remotely any form of stable leadership which is needed to provide any continuity to the residents of the city?”

Conservative councillor Meirion Jenkins, representing Sutton Mere Green ward, said: “What we need is stability and commitment and we need a CEO that really wants to be CEO of Birmingham and really wants to make a bond and commitment.

“I don’t think it’s in the interests of the city to have an interim appointment at this time. I think we need a long-term commitment that gives somebody the opportunity to bring their influence over a longer period than a year.”

Council leader Ian Ward said: “Chris Naylor comes to Birmingham with a formidable reputation across local government. He is very highly regarded by the government so I am very confident we have made a very, very good interim appointment.

“We did not make a permanent appointment having gone through the process and therefore we have to have some arrangements taking us through the period, by the end of which we will make an actual permanent appointment.

“The non-executive advisers to Birmingham City Council are unanimous that the right decision has been made by the council.

“I think all members of the council should take quite a bit of confidence from that fact.

“I really don’t think this is the moment to be scoring political points and it’s very disappointing that you have chosen to do so on this particular item on today’s agenda.”