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Tower Hamlets LBC chief executive faces an uncertain future after a failed bid to oust him. Martin Smith began annual leave from the London borough on Monday after a Labour-led attempt to suspend him from the council was unsuccessful. He is now seeking advice from the local authorities chief executive's union ALACE. ALACE spokesman Alastair Robertson said: ‘He has not been suspended. The leadership has got some sort of issue with him. ‘I was only told the day before the elections that the issue had blown up. ‘One of our consultants, Richard Penn, was put on to it immediately to give advice. Mr Smith was asked to go home and there was an attempt to suspend him. ‘We advised him to stay at work. The council has no grounds on which to suspend him. Negotiations are now under way with the council. ‘We have to discuss with our member whether he wants to dig in and stay or negotiate to leave.' Moves to suspend Mr Smith have been widely criticised by both the Tory and Lib Dem opposition groups at the council, and the Tory group has called for an extraordinary meeting to the council to discuss the matter. Mr Smith has been chief executive at the Labour-led council for the past two years and was previously director of resources for the local authority. He has been credited with ensuring the council was awarded the top four starts rating in a recent comprehensive performance assessment. But it is reported a clash with the council's leader Cllr Lutfur Rahman last Wednesday may have sparked attempts to oust Mr Smith. Cllr Rahman remained unavailable for comment. While a Tower Hamlets LBC spokesman would only confirm: ‘Martin Smith is currently on annual leave. Kevan Collins, deputy chief executive, is acting chief executive at this time.'

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WHITEHALL

'Plot' to oust Hamlets chief

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