Speculation is rife that the chief executive of Chester City Council could be on the verge of retiring. According to local newspaper, the Chester Chronicle, top officer, Paul Durham, is understood to be about to announce his retirement after rumours of disagreements with the new Tory administration over local government reorganisation and plans to build new offices. The Conservatives took control of the council after the recent local elections (The MJ, 10 May) and distanced themselves from the previous administration's bid for two unitaries in Cheshire. The bid for east and west Cheshire unitaries remains out to consultation, despite the new authority coming out in favour of an improved two-tier model last month. Plans for a new council office, dubbed by locals ‘the glass slug', were also developed by the previous administration. Deputy council leader, Stephen Mosley, said negotiations had now started to cancel the project and find a cheaper alternative. ‘Negotiations have begun and everything is proceeding as expected,' he said. ‘We are prevented from saying too much for legal reasons.' A council spokesman declined to comment on Mr Durham's position.
