Another week has passed and Cornwall's council taxpayers – along with around 80 councillors and local authority staff – remain without any update regarding the sudden disappearance of the authority's chief executive a month ago.
Councillor calls for public explanation
A member of the chief officers employment committee, which has been examining Kate Kennally's absence in closed sessions, maintains the public deserves to know what is happening within the constraints of employment law and policy.
It is understood that sick leave has been cited as the official explanation for her absence within Lys Kernow (County Hall) in Truro, although additional factors surrounding her absence are also under discussion at County Hall.
The issue was examined during an extended chief officers employment committee meeting on Friday September 25, which ran for more than six hours and took place in private. A further private meeting was also convened this week.
Committee bound by confidentiality
The committee comprises seven councillors, including Liberal Democrat council leader Cllr Leigh Frost and Independent deputy leader Cllr Adam Paynter. Reform UK, Green Party, Conservative, Lib Dem and Cornish Independent Non-Aligned councillors complete the committee's membership.
Green Party group leader and committee member Cllr Drew Creek said: "We met again on Monday and I can't really say much more than that. I wish I could to be honest. What I can say is that I was asked to sign a confidentiality agreement before I even got access to the papers of meetings, so I'm bound by that.
"I've been really clear with the leader in the meetings that at some point we need to put out a commentary about what's been going on because, quite rightly, the other 80 members of Cornwall Council, as well as residents, have a right to know what's going on to a certain degree, mindful of the fact we are talking about an employee of an organisation.
"There's a balance there. Hopefully, the administration will find some balance going forwards."
Reputational damage warning
Cllr Creek warned that any apparent absence of transparency is "reputationally damaging for the council and undermines councillors while we're out in our communities if people think there's something going on that they're not aware of."
"The other thing I made really clear is people are already fed up with things happening in darkened rooms. I think back to Louis Gardner and regardless of whether people have got the right or the wrong end of stick on that whole saga, it doesn't look good."
Cllr Creek was referring to Louis Gardner, the former portfolio member for the economy under the previous Conservative administration. Mr Gardner stepped down as a councillor upon taking up a position as head of future air and space at the council-run Spaceport Cornwall.
It was reported last year that, while serving as a cabinet member, he failed to declare an interest during a meeting in which a £200,000 grant was approved from the council to Spaceport Cornwall, despite having already accepted the senior space tech role at that point. The grant was subsequently withdrawn and Mr Gardner relinquished his new position.
Salary and interim arrangements
Ms Kennally continues to receive her full salary, while her "stand-in", interim deputy chief executive Andy Keeling, is being paid on an external contract basis. Council leader Leigh Frost faced questioning from a member of the public at a council meeting in September over why Cornwall's taxpayers are effectively funding 'two chief executives'.
Ms Kennally's base salary stands at £201,661. Mr Keeling previously earned approximately £137,000 to £140,000 per year as chief operating officer and head of paid service at Leicester City Council, before moving to a salary band of £145,000 to £150,000 per year as chief executive of the Falkland Islands Government.
The council has issued no further statements regarding Ms Kennally's absence since their initial comment that "the chief executive is currently on a leave of absence. This is an important period for the council, with the upcoming budget and other key priorities to deliver, and so interim leadership arrangements are being put in place".
