Chief executive of Central Beds Council to step down from £190k role

Richard Carr joined CBC in October 2009, after the merger of the district councils of Mid-Bedfordshire and South Bedfordshire on April 1st 2009.

As the unitary authority's senior officer, Mr Carr earns £190,000 a year.

His decision was revealed at an executive meeting by council leader James Jamieson.

Conservative Westoning, Flitton and Greenfield councillor Jamieson described the chief executive's departure as "sad and for Mr Carr personally probably good news".

He said: "Our chief executive Richard Carr has announced he intends to leave the council at the end of his period of notice, which will be in six month's time.

"I will say more about Richard closer to when he leaves, but he's been an outstanding chief executive.

"I've enjoyed working with him and found his contribution to be very positive.

"We'll have to go through the process now of finding a new chief executive and I look forward to being able to get one as good as Richard.

"I would like to thank him for what he's done and what he'll be doing during the next few months for us and our community."

But his decision was greeted with less enthusiasm by CBC's Independent group of councillors, in social media posts under the heading: "Carr runs out of gas".

They quote a statement to councillors from Mr Carr saying: "COVID-19 led me to revise my plans.

"It didn't feel right to announce my departure at the very time we needed to refocus the organisation on supporting our community through this awful pandemic.

"In that context, I have agonised over when's the right time to announce my intention to move on.

"To be frank, I am not sure there is a ‘right’ time."

The Independents say his successor "will inherit a local authority which faces significant financial impact in the light of the Covid-19 crisis.

"The children's services department has received a highly critical Ofsted report on the council's provision for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

"CBC is yet to publish a detailed plan on how it will deal with climate change and is set to plough £70m into its own housing development company.

"The council's chaotic Local Plan for housing development is still under inspection."

During the pandemic, Mr Carr reversed a decision to use special emergency powers to decide planning applications, including a scheme for 119 homes at Houghton Regis.

Independent group leader and Potton councillor Adam Zerny said: "I believe CBC is in desperate need for reform and I can only hope his successor will show the energy and determination needed to make real changes.

"A number of councillors are already asking how Mr Carr can carry on for six months when all around him know he's on his way out."

Councillor Jamieson paid tribute at the executive meeting to former CBC chairman Fiona Chapman, who died earlier this month.

The long-serving councillor represented CBC and its predecessor local authorities for nearly 40 years, having been first elected in 1976 in Lidlington ward.

She chaired CBC between 2017 and 2019 representing Flitwick ward, held office as High Sheriff in 2001, and "was deservedly awarded the MBE in 2002 for her services to the community", said councillor Jamieson.