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Stoke on Trent City Council's interim chief executive promised ‘business as usual', despite the resignation of the city's elected mayor. Chris Harman, Stoke's interim chief executive, said the city's ‘complex political arrangement' would not hinder the council's plan to deliver a £1.5bn regeneration programme, and a £250m plan to overhaul the city's schools. Mr Harman spoke to The MJ shortly after Labour's elected mayor, Mark Meredith, stood down from his major political responsibilities to fight corruption allegations. Mohammed Pervez, the city's deputy elected mayor, will now lead the council. ‘The one thing I want to make clear is that, with Cllr Pervez stepping into the role, we have clear political direction and accountability. We have a strong management team. The Audit Commission last week rated the council as "improving strongly", and all of our major services have improved over the past year,' Mr Harman said. The chief executive also revealed he was in ‘close contact' with the CLG. An intervention team, supplied by Serco and approved by secretary of state, Hazel Blears, already manages the authority's children's services. Mr Meredith was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office and complicity in corruption in public office on 6 March, and bailed until June. It follows the arrest of Cllr Roger Ibbs, then leader of Stoke's Conservative group, on similar charges. Mr Meredith said: ‘I am innocent of any wrong-doing and I am confident this investigation will show that.' Sources close to the investigation said they would be ‘surprised' if other councillors were arrested.

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WHITEHALL

'Business as usual' says Stoke chief

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