Cheshire East finance chief steps down

CHESHIRE East Council’s director of finance has stepped down.

In a brief statement the authority said Lisa Quinn had left “by mutual agreement” on Friday.

She is the third senior executive to leave the council over scrapped plans for a recycling centre which cost taxpayers £800,000.

It also follows the departure of councillor Rod Menlove who stepped down from the cabinet in January.

The Lyme Green waste facility near Macclesfield was abandoned last year. An internal report found construction work had started without planning permission, and the authority had failed to follow EU procurement rules. It also approved funding without proper authority.

Council leader Michael Jones said: “Lisa Quinn, director of finance and business services, left the council’s employment on Friday, February 15, by mutual agreement. This follows the departure of two senior managers during December.

“Arrangements are already in place to cover her role, while the council continues with the planned introduction of a new management framework, which will be less opaque, more accountable and effective and less costly.

“I would like to thank Lisa for her hard work and commitment to the job during her time at Cheshire East and I wish her well for the future.”

Mr Jones previously said the Lyme Green affair has exposed “serious weaknesses” in the council’s organisational culture. In January he promised a major shake-up senior management which could lead to around a quarter of 40 senior posts being cut.

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