Council Makes A Statement Regarding David Hill

Published on: 6 Jul, 2013
Updated on: 9 Jul, 2013

David Hill.

Guildford Borough Council made its first open statement to its own councillors about the situation with the council’s chief executive, David Hill, at the full council meeting on Thursday (July 4).

The interim head of legal services Satish Mistry, reading out a prepared statement, said: “Councillors will be aware of reports in the local press relating to this. I can confirm that a grievance has been lodged against the chief executive and is currently the subject of an investigation by an independent person. A report will be produced in due course.

“The council must, as a matter of law and natural justice seek to preserve the rights of both parties involved in this matter, whilst the investigation is ongoing.

“That report will be considered by the council in accordance with the requirements of employment law and the council’s constitution at the appropriate time.

“Certain members of the council may be involved in that process in due course. For these reasons it is not appropriate for further information to be disclosed at the present time.”

A motion to put in place proposed arrangements “necessary and proportionate to ensure the continuity of the council’s internal governance arrangements in Mr Hill’s absence” was then approved unanimously without further debate.

In outline, the arrangements are that Sue Sturgeon, strategic director, will take on most of David Hill’s responsibilities and Satish Mistry will be the electoral registration officer, necessary if any elections were to be called before a permanent chief executive is back in place.

Although a well placed source previously informed The Guildford Dragon NEWS that the assessor’s investigation report was expected next week, the council agenda item stated: “Clearly, the process for investigating and determining a grievance can be time consuming…”

Mr Hill remains on sick leave and in receipt of full pay. The Guildford Dragon NEWS has invited comment from him via his work email address. So far none has been received.

Responses to Council Makes A Statement Regarding David Hill

Beryl McAuley Reply

July 8, 2013 at 9:13 pm

A lot of people have been wondering for some time what this council has been up to.
Andrew Mitchell Reply

July 11, 2013 at 2:42 pm

There appears to have been an unprecedented number of staff leaving the council very suddenly in the past year particularly at senior level. This would seem to indicate that something is afoot. Maybe the council is not as transparent and open in its dealings as it would have us believe?

The Guildford Dragon NEWS has asked the council to provide some stats which will be published as received. Ed
- Martin Giles Reply
  
  July 12, 2013 at 4:21 pm
  
  We have received a reply from Guildford Borough Council regarding numbers of staff leaving the council in the last two years.
  
  It has provided the following figures for the last two years which shows that there has, in fact been a decrease in the number of staff leaving in the previous 12 months compared with the same period, 12 months before.
  
  In general terms the lettered grades include the management and more senior posts. Ed.
  
  The accompanying explanation, from a council spokesperson, states:
  “We have produced the chart below in response to your query; we have presented the information in this way for clarity as we have numerous different staff grades. Our lettered grades include all of our managers and our numbered grades include a variety of roles, for example those in areas such as refuse collection, care work and administration.
  
  “The headcount figures are for the beginning of the years shown and are broken down by numbered and lettered grades. The figures in the first two charts include all leavers, regardless of the reason for leaving (This would include reasons such as staff leaving to go to another job, dismissal, retirement and so on). We have removed our leisure centre staff from the figures in the third chart as they all left the Council’s employment under TUPE to be employed by Freedom Leisure.”
  
  See also: Steep Rise in Redundancies at Guildford Borough Council