MPs 'welcome' departure of council chief

News of Sandra Stewart's resignation came out following a meeting to discuss the council's crisis-hit children's services

Three Greater Manchester MPs including deputy prime minister Angela Rayner have said they "welcome" the resignation of the chief executive of a crisis-hit council.

Sandra Stewart has quit her £184,767 a year job at Tameside Council, the local authority said in a statement issued on Tuesday night.

The council has been subject to a review of its children's services after receiving two inadequate ratings from Ofsted within a five year period.

"As Members of Parliament for Tameside, myself, Angela Rayner and Andrew Gwynne welcome the resignation of the former chief executive Sandra Stewart," a statement issued by Stalybridge and Hyde MP Jonathan Reynolds said.

'Unacceptable working practices'

Reynolds said the recent children's commissioner's report into the authority's children's services revealed "unacceptable working practices and conditions for staff at the council".

"In our view this has been to detriment of delivering the services our constituents need and expect," the statement added.

He said that since the report had been published "we have made clear that a change of corporate leadership was required", adding that "Tameside now has the opportunity to move forward and we embrace the chance to do so".

Ms Stewart's departure was confirmed in a statement released by the council following a meeting to discuss children's services, at which Ms Stewart was not present.

The statement, in the form of a letter to councillors from Ms Stewart, said she would now be focusing on her role heading up the Greater Manchester Pension Fund, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

"Further updates regarding arrangements in the short term will be provided in the coming days," the letter continued.

The authority's director of resources, Ashley Hughes, is set to act up as chief executive ahead of a permanent appointment being made, the council said.

Tameside Children's Services received its second inadequate warning from Ofsted within a five year period in February.

Since then, the deputy leader of the council Bill Fairfoull was replaced in his role leading children’s services by Teresa Smith.