NEW ROLE FOR EX-CHIEF
4 May 2006
Swansea Council's former top boss has taken a £30,000 pay cut to take a role as head of a local council policy advice unit, it has emerged. Mr Thorogood walked away from his £120,000-a-year chief executive's post at Swansea Council after councillors decided to hold a full investigation into alleged planning breaches at his Rhossili home.
It has now been revealed Mr Thorogood will be taking the reins at the influential Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) - a think-tank that advises local authorities and lobbies on their behalf.Swansea Council is a registered member of the LGIU.
Mr Thorogood will join as the unit's chief executive later this summer.
He quit Swansea Council in January after being suspended from his chief executive's post in a row over a garage built at his home.
He was forced to apply for retrospective planning permission after changing the original design. It was then alleged that further changes were made and following an official complaint he was suspended.
A planned internal inquiry into his role in the matter was dropped when he left the council. In an interview for the LGIU's website, Mr Thorogood says he is looking forward to taking over from Dennis Reed when he retires.
Mr Thorogood said: "I am delighted to have been appointed the new chief executive of the LGIU, in what is both an exciting time for local government and for the unit.
"The LGIU has a strong track record of influencing policy in favour of local democratic bodies and, for me, this is an opportunity to bring my frontline experience to bear on national policy debates."
Mr Thorogood, who was given a package worth £60,000 when he left Swansea Council, is expected to pick up around £90,000 a year from the London-based LGIU.
Dave Wilcox, chairman of the LGIU, said: "Tim Thorogood is an exciting choice for the unit, chosen from a strong field of candidates."His experience and track record of success will help the LGIU continue to provide highly valued services to local authorities of all types and political persuasions.
"We are all looking forward to working with Tim and supporting him as he steers the organisation into its next phase of development."
Swansea Council's former top boss has taken a £30,000 pay cut to take a role as head of a local council policy advice unit, it has emerged. Mr Thorogood walked away from his £120,000-a-year chief executive's post at Swansea Council after councillors decided to hold a full investigation into alleged planning breaches at his Rhossili home.
It has now been revealed Mr Thorogood will be taking the reins at the influential Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) - a think-tank that advises local authorities and lobbies on their behalf.Swansea Council is a registered member of the LGIU.
Mr Thorogood will join as the unit's chief executive later this summer.
He quit Swansea Council in January after being suspended from his chief executive's post in a row over a garage built at his home.
He was forced to apply for retrospective planning permission after changing the original design. It was then alleged that further changes were made and following an official complaint he was suspended.
A planned internal inquiry into his role in the matter was dropped when he left the council. In an interview for the LGIU's website, Mr Thorogood says he is looking forward to taking over from Dennis Reed when he retires.
Mr Thorogood said: "I am delighted to have been appointed the new chief executive of the LGIU, in what is both an exciting time for local government and for the unit.
"The LGIU has a strong track record of influencing policy in favour of local democratic bodies and, for me, this is an opportunity to bring my frontline experience to bear on national policy debates."
Mr Thorogood, who was given a package worth £60,000 when he left Swansea Council, is expected to pick up around £90,000 a year from the London-based LGIU.
Dave Wilcox, chairman of the LGIU, said: "Tim Thorogood is an exciting choice for the unit, chosen from a strong field of candidates."His experience and track record of success will help the LGIU continue to provide highly valued services to local authorities of all types and political persuasions.
"We are all looking forward to working with Tim and supporting him as he steers the organisation into its next phase of development."
posted by Commentator at 11:00 AM
<< Home