Monday 10 November 2008

Janet Callender in resignation mystery

The chief executive of a Greater Manchester council is to quit her post after five years.Janet Callender, who has overall responsibility for running Tameside council, is ranked as one of the country's top council bosses.But her surprise resignation has sparked a flurry of speculation about the motives for her departure and what her next move will be.The former solicitor announced to colleagues yesterday that she would leave her post at the end of March - describing her departure as 'a natural watershed in Tameside's journey'.She described the position at Tameside as her 'dream job' and is walking away from the six-figure post without having another job lined up.She has a home in Knutsford which she shares with her husband. In recent months she has sold a flat in Stalybridge.But a number of councillors and officers believe Mrs Callender decided on the move for career reasons.One senior source said: "Despite what people are saying, there has been no fall-out between her and the council leaders."Janet is a high-flier. We were never going to keep her. She has decided to take a break before diving back into the work place, but there will be no shortage of job offers."Earning a £155,000 salary - more than a Cabinet minister - Mrs Callender OBE, who is in her forties, was rated among the top 30 most influential figures in local government earlier this year.She is credited with improving a number of services in Tameside - which is now one of a handful of top-ranked councils in England.She sits on a number of government think tanks and enjoys close links with ministers - and is thought likely to pursue jobs in Whitehall or in government agencies in the north west.In a statement, council leader Roy Oldham paid tribute to her efforts, saying: "She will always be respected as one of the best chief executives that we have ever had. We wish her every success in the future." Manchester Evening News

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is interesting.

Could it have anything to do with the stories carried on this Blog over the last six weeks regarding the Government Document, Private Eye, alleged censorship, who sent the story to the Department of Communities and Local Government and the proposed raising of this issue in open council next week?

tonydj said...

Could be, anon, but I think not.

She has announced she is leaving in spring at “a natural watershed in Tameside’s journey”.

What does that mean?

A new council leader with whom she may not be able to get on with, or who want's HIS own choice for Chief Executive?

Or just the end of the financial year?

Anonymous said...

Wahey! Kilroy is on I'm a Celebrity!

Anonymous said...

hmmm...I await with interest the outcome of the enhanced inspections of Children & Young Peoples Services (JAR / Coperate Assessment / OFSTED) which are finally published by government next week...(The Youth Offending Team's is already out and not that great http://inspectorates.homeoffice.gov.uk/hmiprobation/inspect_reports/yot-inspections.html/Tameside_YOT_Report.pdf?view=Binary ) The council has been sitting on these results since summer with the promised feedback to frontline workers never materialising...maybe Ian Smith took the info with him when he suddenly 'resigned' only a few weeks ago...

or maybe Janet didn't like what the councils employees had do say about the organisation in the recent MORI poll, the outcome of which is still 'pending'...

oooh, speculation...

Kilroy bless him, that'll be entertaining

Anonymous said...

Spot the racist

Anonymous said...

Is it right in this day and age for a female worker to be constantly verbally abused by her male boss?

Is it right that the male boss should tell the same female worker to "F*** off"?

Is it right that the only time that the female worker can get a coherent answer from her male boss is before lunch, as he then spends the rest of the day drinking?

And is it right that faced with such disgradeful behaviour, the female worker should feel it necessary to hand in her notice whilst her male boss carries on regardless?

I can't imagine for one minute that there is such an odious male boss out there.

Anonymous said...

BREAKING NEWS

The real reason for Janet Callendar's sudden resignation has now been revealed by our sources on the inside.

Mrs Callendar was filmed on the steps of Ashton Town Hall declaring:

"Bollocks to Obama, White Power". This was then followed by a roman salute.

Amazed onlookers could barely believe their eyes. One shocked market trader spoke exclusively to us. To protect his identity we'll call him Roy. "I never knew Janet held such extreme views, but as they say, it's always the quiet ones".

Another Ashton resident saw Mrs Callendar's antics. Again, to protect her identity we'll call her Sandra. "I believe in some of the things the National Socialists' stood for, but one must keep one's views to oneself".

Mrs Callendar refused to comment on the allegations.

Anonymous said...

There is a wave building out to sea. Perhaps in your myopic swagger you don’t yet discern it. It is swelling the ocean of unrest with a large and terrible rage - the rage of the English.

I’d keep a sharp eye on that bulge in the water if I were you. Soon she will deliver her progeny and you will find out whether all those rumours about the Anglo-Saxons are true.

Load your muskets. Gird your loins. Take in provisions. The English are coming and we may not be alone.