Council's director of finance to leave in May

Alex Thompson has worked for the authority since 2009

The director of finance at a council which is facing significant financial pressures is to leave to take up a new role.

Cheshire East Council’s chief financial officer, Alex Thompson, who recently warned he was "not satisfied" the authority had an "adequate level of reserves" to support its budget, will leave in May.

He has worked for the council in various posts since its formation in 2009.

Mr Thompson will leave in May to start a new job at Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council in the West Midlands.

The authority is set to appoint an interim chief financial officer at its meeting on Tuesday, which is also when it will sign off its budget for the next financial year.

Rob Polkinghorne, the council’s chief executive, said Mr Thompson had been a “valued member” of the council’s corporate leadership team and thanked him for his work as director of finance and section 151 officer.

“We are currently in the final stages of budget setting for the year ahead and Alex and the team he leads have shown remarkable dedication, commitment and drive throughout our budget-setting process,” he said.

“Alex will be leaving us in May and so will be continuing to support the process into the new financial year.”

Mr Thompson said he was “proud to have been a part of the council’s many successes”, and thanked his colleagues at the authority.

Cheshire East Council previously said it was facing an overspend of £13m in the current financial year, while its reserves stood at £14.1m.

Documents published ahead of the budget meeting next week included the warning from Mr Thompson over its reserves, and he also added that the council "must address the current trend of overspending".

The authority will also appoint its new deputy leader at the same meeting, after Independent group leader Craig Browne announced his plans to step down to take a role outside of the council.