Top bosses to go in staffing restructure
The two highest paid bosses at Wolverhampton council are set to leave their posts in the coming months as part of a major top-end staffing restructure, it can be revealed.
Education boss Julien Kramer and strategic director for people Linda Sanders were paid a combined total of more than £420,000 over the last year to run their respective departments on an interim basis.
It comes as the city's governance chief vowed to reduce the number of senior staff on extravagant interim contracts.
Mr Kramer, who joined the authority in June 2015, will end his contract two months early to leave his £182,640-a-year post on April 7.
Top earner Mrs Sanders, who has picked up the staggering figure of £1,134-a-day (£241,542-a-year) since joining the council in January 2015, is set to leave when her contract expires this summer.
The authority currently has 10 senior staff employed on interim contracts, which usually run for six months or a year and see staff paid higher rates through agencies.
Wolverhampton's governance boss, Councillor Milkinder Jaspal, said: "Wolverhampton council is going through a rapid restructure aimed at reducing the number of interim and consultant roles over the next 12 months.
"I do think there is a role for these types of contracts in certain circumstances.
"However, our priority must always be to provide the best possible service while achieving value for money for the taxpayer.
"I would like to thank the two officers for their efforts and wish them well in the future."
Council bosses say they plan to recruit permanent staff for both roles.
Mr Kramer is credited with overseeing significant improvements in education standards since he took over from Dr Jim McElligott.
The city now has more higher rated schools than ever before, with 85 per cent of primary, secondary, nursery and special schools now rated 'Good' or 'Outstanding' by Ofsted.
Mr Kramer said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time working in the brilliant city of Wolverhampton.
“It is clear that education standards in our city are on the up, and that is thanks to the hard work and dedication of the fantastic headteachers, leadership teams, governors, pupils and parents in our schools, and of colleagues within the education service at the council.
“We are committed to ensuring our city’s children have the best possible education. Clearly it now time to recruit a permanent director of education to lead Wolverhampton’s education service into its next phase of success, and I will be working closely with the council in this process in order that we secure the best person possible for this vital role.”
Opposition Conservative leader Councillor Wendy Thompson has branded interim deals 'an unnecessary extravagance'.
