New chief executive appointed to Tameside Council

There is a new interim chief executive in place at Tameside Council, who town hall bosses hope will help drive them forwards.

There is a new interim chief executive in place at Tameside Council, who town hall bosses hope will help drive them forwards.

As the search for a permanent paid-service boss goes on, Harry Catherall has agreed to move over from Oldham Council for four days a week, a meeting at Dukinfield Town Hall confirmed.

He has retained his role as chief executive of Oldham Council for one day per week and will take a £169,607 salary from his new council.  Mr Catherall’s appointment was approved during an extraordinary council meeting on October 29. 

His former assistant CEO, Shelley Kipling, will be stepping up as acting chief executive in Oldham during his secondment.

With Coun Eleanor Wills being installed as council leader last week, the appointment of Mr Catherall marks the complete changing of the guard within the town hall hierarchy in Tameside.

This brings an end to the month which will go down in the borough’s history as the time when both the council leader and the chief executive resigned.

On October 8, ex-chief executive Sandra Stewart tendered her resignation and was followed three days later by former leader Coun Ged Cooney. The two leaders stepped down following pressure for change amid a scathing report into children’s services, currently rated ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted. 
A government commissioner published a brutal assessment of the children’s services department in September.

The council was told repeatedly it was failing those most vulnerable – with social workers overstretched, children living in ‘neglect’ for too long and some youngsters in care being put in ‘unsuitable’ accommodation. The commissioner’s report also highlighted a ‘toxic culture’ pervading through the services.

These department failures are something the new council leader has vowed to sort out – which is why Mr Catherall has been brought in. The new CEO, who got a standing ovation upon his official appointment on Tuesday evening, has a track record of turning around children’s services in Oldham as well as in previous jobs. 

He was also chief executive at St Helen’s Council in 2019/20 where he drove improvements in children’s services and progressed significant regeneration activity to boost inward investment and create local jobs.

Speaking at the extraordinary council meeting, council leader Eleanor Wills said: “I believe this decision made over the last few days shows we are serious about changing. Looking to appoint Harry Catherall in such a manner shows we are planning to do just that.
“It was a unanimous decision that the panel made that Mr Catherall was the right man for the job. This is the first step in our (improvement) journey, and we will travel it together.
“During the coming months we will continue our recruitment for a permanent director of children’s services and start the recruitment for a permanent chief executive, and once complete there will be a smooth transition which will provide consistency for our staff and residents. We are taking the time needed to do this right.  
“There is a careful and serious process to follow in order to appoint people with the right level of experience and commitment. We are creating a successful foundation here for them to build on when they come into post.” 

Mr Catherall’s 40-year career in local government has also seen him head up Darwen Council with whom he held a number of senior roles previously. This all prepared him for his role as chief executive of Oldham Council in 2021 – where he led the borough’s recovery from Covid-19 and presided over one of the country’s fastest improvements to children’s services from ‘requires improvement’ to ‘good’, according to Oldham Council.
This new interim role at Tameside Council is a full-circle moment for the trained accountant, who started his local government journey as a 16-year-old apprentice within the local authority.

Harry Catherall, the new interim chief executive of Tameside Council said: “I began my career as a 16-year-old apprentice at Tameside Council, which kickstarted my 40 plus year career in local government, so it brings me great pride to return to the authority in its time of need.
“I will be working closely with senior leaders and elected members over the coming weeks to ensure I have a full understanding of the improvements that are needed and I’m confident that we can start to turn the tide and make real progress for the residents of Tameside.”

Dr Catherine Driscoll, Interim Director of Children’s Services, added: “We’re confident we will make the necessary improvements to services, but it’s important to be clear there are no quick fixes. We’re moving at pace but we’re also making sure we do this right – and that does take time.
“Ultimately, the priority here is getting this work right for children and their families throughout Tameside. They deserve the best care and support, and to grow and thrive in a safe and protected environment. 

“We’re doing this work for each and every one of the children we have a responsibility to care for.”