Mystery surrounds 'secret' report amid reports of tensions at the top of Walsall Council

An item on the ‘governance and leadership arrangements’ on the council is scheduled for the meeting, but the council has delayed distribution of the report which will be discussed.

The item will be debated in private, with the Press and public excluded from attendance.

A source inside Walsall council said it was understood that the jobs of senior officials could be under discussion, with a potential cost to the taxpayer of £2 million. Another source said the figure could be as high as £4 million.

It has also been alleged that another senior council officer has been ‘placed on gardening’ leave.

The council has refused to confirm or deny the allegations.

The ‘summons’ inviting councillors to the meeting, which is normally signed by Mrs Bennett, has also this time been sent anonymously.

Walsall Council has declined to answer a series of questions from the Express & Star, including whether the leader and chief executive ‘have a good working relationship’.

When asked about Mrs Bennett’s future, a spokeswoman replied: “Emma Bennett is the chief executive of Walsall Council. We remain focused on delivering services for the people of Walsall.”

Councillor Robin Perry said he was concerned about the delay in distributing the papers. He said he wanted to know what the discussion would be about so he could come to an opinion on whether it should be held in private, or should be open to the public.

“If it is, as I have heard, about people’s jobs, then it probably should be heard in private, but if public money is involved, then the public has a right to know something of what it is about,” he said.

Councillor Perry was one of 40 new Reform councillors elected in May’s landslide win, but he was suspended from the party days later following a fall-out with Councillor Williams.

Former Walsall councillor Pete Smith has also weighed in, saying: “There are intriguing rumours swirling around council house corridors about internal disputes, some even talking of chaos and mayhem and political leadership ‘dictatorship’.

“The council leadership wants this report to be discussed by councillors in secret, with the Press and public excluded. It would be wise of the council to clarify the position, ‘come clean’ with the public, and hopefully quell speculation.”

Mrs Bennett, 53, who earns about £200,000 a year for her role, was appointed to her role in 2023, after previously working for Wolverhampton Council.

In a series of questions to Walsall Council, the Express & Star asked:

*What was the reason for the delay in circulating the report to councillors?

*Why was the summons not issued/signed by the chief executive, as is custom?

*Does the report involve the allocation of significant sums of public money, ie six figures? We have been given a figure of £2 million, please could you advise if that is incorrect?

*Are the jobs of senior officers at the council at risk?

*What are the reasons for holding the session in private? Will a redacted report on the proceedings be issued after the meeting?

*Please could we have a statement confirming that the council leader and chief executive have a good working relationship?

A spokeswoman for Walsall Council replied: “Governance and Leadership Arrangements is an agenda item scheduled for consideration in private at Monday’s council meeting. We are unable to comment further at this stage.”