23 September 2005
The chief executive of a Scottish council severely criticised by Audit Scotland is to resign.
Robert Cleary has agreed to step down from his post with Inverclyde Council after the authority was labelled the worst performing in Scotland with a damning report by Audit Scotland in June.
The watchdog said 'urgent and remedial action' was needed to correct a decade of weak leadership under previous Labour administrations and the current Liberal Democrat controlling group.
Cleary, who has been with the council and its predecessor for almost 30 years, had been under pressure to consider his position. Although details of his financial package have not been given officially, insiders claim that he will leave with a lump sum of about £130,000 and a pension deal worth around £45,000 a year.
In a joint statement, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and Inverclyde said: 'The council has decided on a fundamental new direction for itself on the back of recent reports.
'Robert has decided that this new direction offers both himself and the council the perfect opportunity for a clean break and allows the council to appoint a new chief executive. Therefore it has been mutually agreed that he will take voluntary severance.'
Following the publication of the Audit Scotland report, Inverclyde agreed to set up an action group to tackle its management problems. This body has been overseen by Cosla and by the newly established Local Government Improvement Service.
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