Council brain drain claims another scalp

Feb 29 2008 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

THE head of one of the region’s largest authorities is leaving his post as a North East council brain drain continues.

Sunderland chief executive Ged Fitzgerald is returning home to run Lancashire County Council after four years of taking responsibility for the North’s biggest city.

The 46-year-old has secured a contract on the same band grading as his Sunderland pay, which is between £170,000 to £179,000.

Mr Fitzgerald said: “ I will be sad to leave but glad to know that I am leaving the city in good shape to achieve its vision of becoming a city people choose because of its special quality of life, its great environment and its huge potential for the future.”

And his new boss, Hazel Harding, leader of Lancashire County Council, has welcomed his appointment.

She said: “I am sure that Ged will build on the solid foundations laid by (retiring top boss) Chris Trinick and prove to be an excellent chief executive.”

Mr Fitzgerald’s departure comes just weeks after Durham County Council chief executive Mark Lloyd announced he is set to take over as the new boss at Cambridgeshire County Council.

Mr Lloyd had spearheaded the successful campaign for a single unitary authority – leading to the unpopular abolition of Durham County’s seven district councils.

The unitary shake-up has forced councils to dig into their reserves and offer extensive pay rises and bonuses to retain the top talent ahead of the new authorities being formed.

In Northumberland, councillors have had to authorise a 20% pay rise for three senior officers in order to prevent them leaving for a new, more secure post.

Northumberland County council leader Peter Hillman granted the big increases to chief executive Mark Henderson, deputy chief executive Jill Dixon and finance director Steven Mason to ensure they stay with the authority until it becomes unitary next year.

The rises, backdated to October, have enhanced their performance-related salaries.

MP Ronnie Campbell said that while the apparent brain drain might get worse as the unitary authorities form, the top level staff turnover presented “unique opportunities”.

The Blyth MP has previously complained to the Government following the Northumberland “golden handshake” deal.

Mr Campbell said: “We have a lot of good upcoming council officers and we have seen in Northumberland what happens when you give these a chance.

“I don’t think we need to be paying these incredible wages when we are already seeing possible job losses.

“We have some very eager up and coming staff in the region and some will doubtlessly leave when the new councils are formed, but many others have shown a level of commitment without these huge financial rewards.”

Councils nationally have already had to ask the Department for Communities and Local Government for guidance after it emerged many officers from district councils who duplicate the work done on a county level would not be guaranteed a senior post in the new authorities.

DCLG is due to bring out new guidance before elections for the authorities are held in May.