A new chief executive has been appointed to Tameside Council after the previous incumbent resigned following a controversial tweet.

Sandra Stewart, who was formerly the council’s monitoring officer and head of governance and pensions, will now be the permanent chief executive after filling the role on an interim basis.

At a full council meeting on Tuesday, she was officially welcomed into the role, in which she will be paid £184,767, and will serve as the council’s electoral registration officer and returning officer.

In the summer, councillors were told that the previous long-standing chief executive Steven Pleasant had resigned ahead of a report finding he breached legislation with a social media post in which he expressed surprise that a Tory voter had ‘compassion and empathy’.

Ms Stewart has worked at Tameside Council since 1994, going on to assume the role of borough solicitor and deputy chief executive, becoming director of governance in 2010 and pension fund director in 2016.

As chief executive, she will also continue as director of the Greater Manchester Pension Fund, and will also have the responsibility as Tameside’s place-based lead for health and care integration.

Council leader Ged Cooney told councillors that under Ms Stewart’s leadership the value of the pension fund had ‘virtually doubled’.

He added: “I’m very pleased there was unanimous support for Sandra Stewart to be appointed as chief executive.

“In the time I have known Sandra since she started here in 1994, she has been an excellent officer during the 28 years she has served the council.

“The council is facing an unprecedented financial situation caused by the post-pandemic recovery, the cost of living crisis and the spiralling energy costs which are affecting businesses and residents across the borough, including the council and its staff.

“So I am pleased that we will all be working in partnership with Sandra to get through this as she shares our vision to make a difference for the people of Tameside.”

In a statement after the meeting, Ms Stewart said: “I am passionate about Tameside and will continue to work with the elected council leadership, the council senior leadership team and partners to deliver the very best we can for the borough and our residents.

“I am committed to ensuring that what we do every day will make it a better place for everyone to live, learn and work.”

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