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04
Oct 2022
Last Updated: 04/10/2022
Union asks Harrogate council if chief executive will get exit package
The chief executive of Hambleton District Council, which will be abolished at the same time as Harrogate Borough Council, could receive a £225,000 exit payment.
Wallace Sampson, chief executive of Harrogate Borough Council.
Public service union Unison is to write to Harrogate Borough Council inquiring whether it plans to award chief executive Wallace Sampson an exit package.
Harrogate Borough Council is one of seven district councils facing abolition on April 1, when the new North Yorkshire Council comes into existence.
Hambleton District Council, which will also be abolished, is considering awarding a £225,000 redundancy payment to its chief executive, Dr Justin Ives. The council is due to discuss the payment today.
The five local government branches of Unison that cover the councils in North Yorkshire have issued a joint statement saying they are "dismayed and angry" about the potential payment to Dr Ives. They added:
"If this package is approved by councillors on Tuesday, it will send a message to our members that those staff who are already very well paid are able to negotiate themselves better deals than lower paid workers.
“This huge exit payment will not go down well with hard working council staff and local residents who are struggling with the cost of living crisis.
“We will also be writing to the other district and borough councils across North Yorkshire to make sure they are not tempted to do the same.”
Read more:
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The statement is signed by David Houlgate, of the Harrogate branch of Unison, Wendy Nichols, of the North Yorkshire branch, Neil Braham, of the Craven branch, Serena Williams, of the Ryedale branch and Andy Adamson, of the Scarborough branch.
Mr Houlgate added that his branch had also written to Harrogate Borough Council "for clarification on what exactly is happening, in particular at which full council meeting it is intended to discuss and sign off the redundancy".
The Stray Ferret has contacted Harrogate Borough Council but has not yet had a response.
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