The acting chair of the cross-party investigation and disciplinary committee (IDC) at Cheshire East Council, Cllr Margaret Simon, has confirmed that a two-day disciplinary hearing, which was due to commence today (Thursday 12th July), will now not proceed.
The hearing was to consider allegations in relation to the council’s chief executive Mike Suarez, who resigned earlier this week.
Cllr Simon said: “It is confirmed that Mr Suarez resigned on 9th July 2018 with immediate effect and without notice.
“The resignation was accepted by Kath O’ Dwyer, acting chief executive on 10th July.
“Mr Suarez will receive his contractual and statutory entitlement to outstanding holiday pay and salary to 9 July 2018.
“The IDC reconvened at Macclesfield Town Hall at 10.30am today.
“However, as the IDC can only deal with matters in relation to existing statutory officers of the council, there is no need to proceed with the disciplinary hearing, due to the resignation of Mr Suarez.”
In a letter to local press, Mr Suarez said: “I decided to resign yesterday, with immediate effect, my position as chief executive of Cheshire East Council.”
He continued: “I am very grateful to staff, residents and partners for their significant contributions over my time at Cheshire East.”
He concluded: “Despite circumstances, I still think Cheshire is a great place to live and work with a great community here. I wish the staff at Cheshire East and its partners all the best for the future.”
He did not give a reason for his resignation and Chehsire East Council has confirmed no details as to the reason for his suspension.
Read Mr Suarez’s letter in full:
Dear Sir/Madam,
I decided to resign yesterday, with immediate effect, my position as Chief Executive of Cheshire East Council.
Setting aside my reasons, I just wanted to thank all those staff, residents, businesses, partners and town and parish and other councillors who have offered me their sincere support and well wishes over this period.
I am very grateful to staff, residents and partners for their significant contributions over my time at Cheshire East. Without them, the Council could not have come out of OFSTED intervention, delivered a new state of the art leisure centre at Crewe or secured a future HS2 Station, or successfully delivered such impressive Community events such as the Tour of Britain. I was also very impressed with CEC staff and the recognised trade unions at Cheshire East and the way they were prepared to support the creation of new forms of service delivery, from Limited Companies to a Leisure Charity. These new arrangements helped to improve services and value for residents and ensured a strong, albeit different form of ‘going concern’, for the staff involved.
I should like also to pay particular thanks to all partners involved in supporting all those affected by the Bosley Mill explosion. It was perhaps one of the finest examples of joint working across communities, statutory and non statutory partners I have witnessed in my local government career and the resilience of the Bosley Community and the strong work of the Parish Council was very humbling.
Lastly, I moved my family to Cheshire because of its wonderful country side, proximity to national parks, and its fantastic businesses and schools. Despite circumstances, I still think Cheshire is a great place to live and work with a great community here.
I wish the Staff at Cheshire East and its partners all the best for the future.
Yours sincerely,
Mike
Mike Suarez
Resident of Cheshire East
