Title

HUMAN RESOURCES

East Devon chief executive urged to resign

East Devon DC’s boss has been called on to resign after a report into the council’s handling of serious allegations against a councillor was published.

East Devon DC's boss has been called on to resign after a report into the council's handling of serious allegations against a councillor was published.

An independent report said that it had found ‘no reliable evidence' that chief executive Mark Williams was aware of an investigation into the former councillor John Humphreys.

However, the council's opposition Labour group claimed Mr Williams had been ‘alerted to the situation'.

An email sent to Mr Williams by the Labour group said it 'no longer has confidence' in his ability to perform the role of chief executive and urged him to 'resign with immediate effect'.

Former councillor Mr Humphreys was convicted in 2021 of three counts of serious sexual assault and seven of indecent assault against two boys in the 1990s and 2000s.

He was jailed for 21 years.

Mr Williams has been contacted for comment.

HUMAN RESOURCES

Deadlock over December deadline

By Joe Lepper | 08 September 2026

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is bullish on enforcing a statutory deadline of December for councils to submit their local plans, ...

HUMAN RESOURCES

Driving devolution

By Heather Jameson | 03 September 2026

Prime Minister Andy Burnham may have set up No10 North as the engine room for devolution and is firmly in the driving seat, but who will be the engineers? He...

HUMAN RESOURCES

Basildon announces next chief executive

By Martin Ford | 12 August 2026

Julian Ellerby has been announced as interim chief executive of Basildon Council.

HUMAN RESOURCES

EXCLUSIVE: Council denies senior officer suspensions amid chief executive exit row

By Dan Peters | 06 August 2026

Two senior Derby City Council officers are ‘currently out of the office’ after a row over two fact finding exercises into the former chief executive, The MJ ...

Popular articles by William Eichler