South Holland searching for new council partner

Council bosses in South Holland are setting themselves a four week deadline to find a new partner for a shared management arrangement.

From today, South Holland and Breckland District Councils no longer share senior leaders.

At a special meeting last week, South Holland district councillors agreed to a new interim arrangement, with consultant Nathan Elvery to be kept on for two days a week.

Mr Elvery, who helped to work on the separation from Breckland, will be interim head of paid service and will help to find a new partner.

Coun Angela Newton questioned how much this will cost and how long the arrangement will be needed.

Leader Gary Porter said it should not be longer than four weeks - as a failure to find a new partner by then would mean that the council would have to appoint an interim chief executive of its own.

Coun Porter warned: "That will have a big pound note sign attached to it."

Members went into closed session to discuss the amount being paid to Mr Elvery and then agreed to the temporary arrangement.