The chief executive of Oldham Council is to leave the authority by the end of the year, it's been announced.

Harry Catherall, who joined as an interim chief executive in August 2021 before later being made the permanent head of paid service, is retiring.

He was the former chief executive of Blackburn with Darwen borough council and St Helens council, and has a 40 year career in local government.

Mr Catherall replaced Carolyn Wilkins – who left the role after more than 12 years working at the local authority in the months after Councillor Arooj Shah first became council leader two years ago.

The council will now go out to recruit a new permanent chief executive who can take over when Mr Catherall leaves in December.

Paying tribute to his work in the borough, leader Coun Shah said: “Harry Catherall has been an amazing servant to Oldham and I know I speak on behalf of all of us at the council when I say we wish him all the best for his retirement.

“We’ll be looking to start the recruitment process for the new chief executive over the next few weeks, with Harry remaining in post until the end of this year.

“Upon joining us in 2021, Harry was clear that he had returned to public service from retirement and couldn’t stay forever.

“I asked him to stabilise the organisation, to set a clear path for the future as we came out of the pandemic and meet the increasing needs driven by the emerging cost-of-living crisis, and really focus on basic service delivery. He’s done all that and more.

“Harry is now already developing a plan to deliver the new priorities I have set out for the town, and will stay to ensure a seamless transition to the new chief executive – ensuring the journey of improvement he has set the borough on will continue uninterrupted.”

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