Former Lincolnshire chief executive lands new top role

Keith Ireland, who left his £178,500 a year CEO position at Lincolnshire County Council after just four months in the job, has landed on his feet at a Merseyside council.

Mr Ireland will be taking the role at St Helen’s Council as interim assistant chief executive.

The much-praised employee reportedly disagreed with council leader Martin Hill on “a number of important issues” before he stepped down in November.

Following his departure, however, he was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year honours for his services to local government while working at City of Wolverhampton Council from 2014-18.

A spokesman for his new employers said: “The appointment of Keith Ireland to the position will provide additional capacity to the organisation, as it looks to modernise the way it works.

“Keith is highly experienced in local government.”

Leader of the council, Councillor Martin Hill, and his former chief executive, Keith Ireland reportedly clashed on a number of issues.

Lincolnshire County Council has repeatedly refused to release details of any remuneration fees paid to Mr Ireland on his departure.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service did learn however that Mr Ireland had earned £89,250 in salary payments between his employment and departure.

In a joint statement from council leader at the time of his stepping down, Martin Hill, said the pair “did not share the same approach” but “wished each other the very best for the future”.

Legal advisors have also reportedly gagged councillors from speaking out further about his departure.

It is unclear how much his new position will pay, however, his new boss is reportedly on a salary of £145,688.

He was the third chief executive to fall out of favour with county council leaders since 1998.

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