NW council suspends director of legal services as neutral act

Cheshire East Council has suspended its Director of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer, Bill Norman, following a meeting of its Investigation and Disciplinary Committee last week (14 July).

In a statement the local authority said the committee was considering allegations relating to the conduct of senior officers.

As a result of the hearing the decision had been taken to suspend the director of legal services and monitoring officer in order that an independent investigation be undertaken, it added.

The chairman of the Investigation and Disciplinary Committee said: “We would stress that this suspension is a neutral act taken in the interests of both the council and the director of legal services and monitoring officer.

“It is important that this investigation is undertaken objectively and therefore it would be inappropriate to make any further comment at this stage.

“As notified at the meeting of the Staffing Committee, on April 27, 2017, interim arrangements to cover the responsibilities of this role are already in place.”