Title

The chief executive of West Dunbartonshire Council has claimed he is being hounded out by his councillors. David McMillan has requested to leave his £100,000-a year-post two years before the end of his contract, because of ‘political behaviour' within the council. The 51-year-old said: ‘I can confirm that I have requested early retirement from my position as chief executive, and would hope to be released from my contract before March 2010, 18 months earlier than planned. ‘It will come as no surprise to many that I have been deeply dismayed by political behaviour that does not support change and improvement in West Dunbartonshire, and while this has contributed to my decision, my main concern is my quality of life.' In his letter to the council, he went further, reportedly claiming he had been ‘systematically undermined by some elected members'. His decision to quit comes three months after he won a vote of confidence from councillors, but just ahead of a new progress report on the council from public sector watchdog, the Accounts Commission. The council was accused of ‘limited progress' in a best value report in 2006, with ‘difficult relations' between some members and members and officers', highlighted as part of the problem. In a new progress report about to be published, the commission concluded there was limited evidence of improvement and noted elected members and chief officers still needed to work better together. The council's opposition leader, Cllr Martin Rooney, said: ‘You can be assured that my Labour colleagues and I continue to have full confidence in you as chief executive, and we will continue to support you over the coming months.' The council's leader SNP councillor, Iain Robertson, said: ‘I think relationships between elected councillors and senior officers could improve.'

Title

WHITEHALL

Chief 'is being hounded out'

SUBSCRIBE TO CONTINUE READING