North Northants shadow council's boss and legal officer resign

The interim chief executive and monitoring officer of the North Northamptonshire shadow unitary authority have both resigned after just three months into the role.

Liz Elliott and Bhupinder Gill gave notice of their roles this week and have now stepped down from the senior roles in the shadow authority.

Liz Elliott is currently managing director of Wellingborough Council and will go back to that position and Bhupinder Gill is the monitoring officer for both Wellingborough and East Northants councils. All eight councils in Northamptonshire will disband in April with a number of senior officers likely to lose their current jobs.

It is understood both officers had gone for senior positions within the new North Northants unitary, which is due to be set up in April, but had been unsuccessful. They had been doing the interim roles for no additional pay and had been expected to remain in role until November or December.

Asked by the Local Democracy Reporting Service about the resignations Theresa Grant, Strategic Delivery Director of Future Northants, said: “The North Northamptonshire Shadow Council will next week receive a report containing a series of recommended appointments to the permanent statutory officer roles and also details on how the interim arrangements will continue. These are a series of positive recommendations that will take us closer to the delivery of the new unitary authority.

“This follows the confirmation in August of the appointment of a new chief executive, Mr Rob Bridge. These recommended permanent appointments, should they be agreed, will inevitably change the interim arrangements and this will be covered at the Shadow Council meeting.

“The Shadow Council is very grateful to officers who have and are continuing to support in these interim roles, the next stage is now to formalise the permanent new leadership team which will see further positive change.”

In a message sent to councillors Liz Elliott, said: “I just wanted to let you all know that after being unsuccessful in securing a post in the North Northamptonshire council corporate management team I have decided to come back to Wellingborough in my role as managing director and see out the rest of the journey with you all and be part of that ‘end game’ we had planned.”

Rob Bridge will lead the new North Northants unitary following his leadership of Welwyn Hatfield Council.