Tower Hamlets now officially without a council chief
Tower Hamlets council is without a chief executive, after last night’s meeting behind closed doors failed to appoint anyone for the vacant post to run its �1.2 billion-a-year budget.
Deputy Chief Executive Aman Dalvi, who steered the authority through tough budget decisions in March, had temporarily been in the driving seat since Dr Kevan Collins left eight months ago.
But councillors did not vote for him to continue permanently in the role. He has now gone back to his old post as Development & Renewal director.
The panel responsible for selecting a candidate for the �190,000-a-year post interviewed a shortlist of four on April 23.
But it was unable to make a recommendation to last Wednesday’s council meeting.
An emergency 12-page resolution effectively means the council goes back to square one, to begin the process form scratch.
Councillors have asked officers to come up with ideas for finding a chief executive and what to do in the meantime.
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Each corporate director will continue to manage their responsibilities under existing powers for the moment, the council has confirmed.
The authority said in a statement: “Following the meeting, the council has not appointed to the post of Chief Executive.
Councillors accepted a tabled emergency motion asking officers to bring a report to June’s council meeting setting out the options for the recruitment of a Chief Executive as well as the interim cover arrangements.
“Each corporate director will continue to manage their portfolio under existing delegated powers.”
Mr Dalvi, who had steered the council through what he described as “a very complex and challenging budget process,” returns to his old department in Development and Renewal with projects including building 4,000 new homes 2014-15.
