The new permanent chief executive of Tameside Council on a salary of £195,000

Emma Alexander was approved as the new Chief Executive of Tameside Council at a full council meeting held this week.

Emma Alexander currently works as managing director at Derbyshire County Council, and was recommended for the role at Tameside last week.

Now, after a successful council meeting on Tuesday (15th July), she is officially set to start her role in November.

After previously working at both Oldham and Trafford Councils, Alexander’s new role will see her take over in overseeing issues that plague Tameside Council, which is currently embroiled in controversy over its ‘inadequate’ children’s services department, as well as poor results from an inspection of services for children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).

Tameside Council has been searching for a new executive for over nine months, after previous CEO Sandra Stewart resigned from her position due to the string of pressures that came from the role in October.

Her position was then taken over by Harry Catherall, who vowed to retain the role until a permanent replacement was found. Following Alexander’s recommendation, Catherall landed a new government role helping other struggling councils.

Catherall was appointed as a ministerial envoy via a letter sent by Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government last week.

As a ministerial envoy, he has been tasked with aiding Warrington Borough Council, which failed a government best value inspection last year amid concerns about the council’s investments and business ventures, which were funded by £1.9 billion in borrowed money.

He will be joining three others in the role, and is expected to provide an improvement and recovery plan for the council within the next six months.

In the letter addressed to him from the government, deputy director of local government stewardship and interventions James Blythe detailed his role.

The letter stated: “You will be joined by Carolyn Williamson, and Phil Brookes as Ministerial Envoys with powers to exercise functions, and Sir Stephen Houghton as Ministerial Envoy, who will also support the Authority as they embark on their improvement journey, but will not have powers to exercise functions of the Authority.

“We expect the team to work together in supporting Warrington Borough Council to meet its Best [Value] Duty, providing comprehensive and holistic support to drive cultural change and help deliver the necessary improvements.

“The Secretary of State expects you to take an interest in matters across the Authority [...] given the importance of ensuring that the Authority is delivering best value in all that it does. You will play an important role in informing Ministers’ response to the situation in Warrington Borough Council.”

Following on from Alexander’s appointment as CEO, Catherall has confirmed he will be continuing the role until she starts in November.