The council has agreed a settlement with Chief Executive Daljit Lally which will see her leave the council on July 31st. 
 

At an extraordinary meeting of full council on Wednesday, July 27th it was also agreed that interim Deputy Chief Executive Rick O’Farrell would take up the role of interim Chief Executive. 
 

Members agreed the Heads of Terms negotiated with the Chief Executive to terminate her employment at the end of July and ‘to settle all outstanding disputes as between the county council, its members and officers and the Chief Executive, including the withdrawal of any and all complaints that any of the parties have against each other’. 
 

Under the agreed settlement the Chief Executive will receive £209,000 – roughly the equivalent to one-year's full-time salary for the role. 
 

The report presented to councillors stated: “Whilst this is a substantial sum, it must be remembered that the chief executive is on a high salary, and that pursuing any other option is likely to be costly, time consuming and sapping of both member and officer resources.” 
 

The report comes after the Council Leader commissioned an external corporate governance review of the Council in February 2022. 
 

The purpose was to highlight areas for improvement, provide learning points and give an opportunity for the council to adapt and change the way in which it does business. 
 

It also highlighted the need for a new and permanent chief officer team. 
 

Presenting his findings, report author Max Caller said: “It is common ground with your chief executive and all the group leaders I have spoken to, that the council needs to move on and your current chief executive is not the person who is best able to carry that forward.” 
 

Work began straightaway to take the recommendations forward in restoring good governance, transparency and accountability to the County Council. 

Council Leader Glen Sanderson said: “I am pleased we are now able to move on. This is the first step in our journey to restructure and recruit a new senior officer team as well as providing some certainty for our excellent staff. 
 

“I felt it was important to hold this meeting in public to ensure complete transparency around this matter. We also feel today’s decisions provide best value for the taxpayers of the county.” 
 

Daljit Lally took over the role as Chief Executive in 2017.