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Chief of poorest borough in line for a £500,000 pay-off
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor16 Jul 2010
London's poorest borough faced a huge row today after it ousted its chief executive at a cost of up to £500,000 to the taxpayer.
Labour-run Newham council will part company with £241,000-a-year Joe Duckworth — once the highest-paid town hall chief in the country — next month. Council sources say his pay-off is expected to be more than double his basic salary because he has been forced out rather than sacked.
His departure follows claims of a “personality clash” with Newham's Labour Mayor, Sir Robin Wales.
The East End borough has London's highest deprivation ratings. It had been hoped that Mr Duckworth would help it secure a lasting legacy from the 2012 Olympics in Stratford. But critics claim the council is a “one-party state” since the May elections, when all 60 council seats went to Labour.
Today, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles attacked the expected severance deal, saying: “The age of golden goodbyes and huge pay-offs in the public sector must end. Such a casual attitude to spending public money looks and feels wrong and sends out the wrong message to hardworking taxpayers.”
Mr Duckworth left the council last Friday, although there were no grounds for dismissal. One council source said he was “popular with staff but clearly had differences with the mayor”.
Newham refused to comment on the size of any pay-off, or on any alleged disputes between Sir Robin and Mr Duckworth. It put out a statement that “after two successful years”, Mr Duckworth would leave this summer.
In a statement issued jointly with the mayor, Mr Duckworth said he had enjoyed his “hectic” time at the council but wanted to “seek new challenges”. He went on: “The past two years have seen a step change in the delivery of services, with improved performance shown through enhanced resident satisfaction ratings and assessment by the Audit Commission.”
Sir Robin said: “Joe has brought great energy to the council and I am delighted that together we have improved so much for residents. Newham wishes him the very best for the future.”
Mary Orton, honorary secretary of the Association of Local Authority Chief Executives, which is representing Mr Duckworth, said: “Joe and Newham have agreed to part company. It is a mutually beneficial parting of ways.”
Mr Duckworth will leave in mid-August, but will be on holiday until then. The chief executives association is hammering out a departure deal with Newham.
When he started at Newham in 2008, his £240,000 salary made him the highest-paid council chief executive. He was previously chief executive at the Isle of Wight and before that worked for Westminster and Hackney council.
Sir Robin recently came under fire for a four per cent rise in his salary. He now earns more than £80,000 a year.
Mr Duckworth's basic pay was £241,000 a year but his total package, with pension and perks, is believed to have added up to almost £300,000.
Reader views (15)
Why does Newham keep getting rid of their Chief Executive and handing over large payouts?
When will the Sir Robin Wales stop wasting public money that could be far better spent on what residents actually need. Joe clearly wasn't the man to lead the Council. The Mayor has kept everybody in the dark, so much for his promise of "openness & transparency!
- Kim Spencer, Tower Hamlets, 22/07/2010 22:06
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There should be a Law which states that no one should earn more than the Prime Minister.
- stan white, leeds uk, 19/07/2010 07:42
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Disgraceful. This man is a thief and those who pay him ludicrous money should be charged with defrauding the tax payer.That's what the voters get for voting Labour.
If only 40% of the electorate vote, then politicians should only be paid 40% of these outrageous salaries.
- Paul Mcdee, London, 17/07/2010 15:07
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I'm not sure whether to be sad that he's going, as he was one of the few to dare to argue with the idiotic Wales, horrified at his salary and angry at what could have been done with that money and his payoff, hopeful that Newham will offer his successor a more reasonable salary or.... actually, scrub all of the above. The sooner I get out of this pathetically-managed borough, the better.
This comment will never end up on the Newham Recorder's website, where I have also submitted it.....
- TD,, Newham, 16/07/2010 23:59
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With his first payday he should go and get a decent haircut.
- Davey_Buoy, Chertsey, 16/07/2010 18:24
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Our lousy Public Sector stinks to high heaven.
- Anglo, Sussex England, 16/07/2010 17:01
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Mick in London, have a fab weekend yourself.
- M, London, 16/07/2010 15:40
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Mick in London, I don't know about you, but I'm done with reading or commenting about b......s after reading this one. No disrespect to the journalist, Paul W.
- M, London
A nice theory, M, London.
But I think you should continue to read the news, and comment on those in the news like this man for instance; and do your best to shame and ridicule them at every opportunity ; because to stay silent only allows them to continue unabated in their lack of morality, and their robbery of all honest working taxpayers.
In my opinion: Silence is an insult to our hard earned freedom of speech; so give them hell, M, London, and not peace to continue.
You may not change the Status Quo, but they will know you know them, and know their greedy ways
Have a nice weekend; M.
Then come back fighting………..Mick.
- mickinlondon, london, 16/07/2010 15:05
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With all that money, why did he not have some cosmetic surgery? Well at least he can stand his pennies up in those facial crevices! I have heard of 'Laughter Lines' but nothing is that funny....
- Geraldine Forteque-Myers, Frinton-on-Sea, Essex, 16/07/2010 14:29
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The labour council in Newham have destroyed that area, through their misguided policies and squander of the money they receive in council tax.
Most of the original Newham people have left, what has taken their place is not very pretty
- Russell, London, 16/07/2010 14:21
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Glad to see they are taking this "austerity" drive seriously.
Meet the new govt., same as the old one.
- SimonK, London, 16/07/2010 13:42
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Newham isn't exactly a model of fiscal probity. You only have to drive around to see all the advertising billboards eulogising the achievements of the elected Mayor, Robin Wales. All paid for by the Council/ratepayer, of course.
- Magnus, London, UK, 16/07/2010 13:33
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Mick in London, I don't know about you, but I'm done with reading or commenting about b......s after reading this one. No disrespect to the journalist, Paul W.
- M, London, 16/07/2010 13:31
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Similar thing happened with Tower Hamlets CEO about 6 months ago. Public Sector = unbelievable waste of other people's money.
- Bob_P, East London, 16/07/2010 13:03
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Quote: Labour-run Newham council will part company with £241,000-a-year Joe Duckworth — once the highest-paid town hall chief in the country — next month. Council sources say his pay-off is expected to be more than double his basic salary because he has been forced out rather than sacked.
You can't sack the Elite; you can only sack the workers.
You can't rob the Elite; you can only rob the taxpayers.
But look on the bright side; a rich man has as much chance of entering the kingdom of heaven, as a camel through the eye of a needle.
Whilst waiting for the Kingdom of Heaven to appear, the rich man eats well, and the poor man doesn’t.
So the poor man reaches heaven far faster than the rich man does; all things being unequal that is.
Nice picture by the way, a face of pure innocence; he would make a good second hand car dealer.
- mickinlondon, london, 16/07/2010 12:47
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