Council suffers third senior resignation in nine weeks

Birmingham City Council has been hit by the resignation of another senior officer, just weeks after its chief executive and planning director quit.

The departure of City solicitor and monitoring officer Kate Charlton was announced alongside the publication of a written apology to Charlton from Lady Mayoress Bushra Bi, who had criticised her in an open letter sent to the Birmingham Mail earlier this summer.

Kate Charlton, Birmingham City Council

Bi, who is the daughter of Lord Mayor Cllr Mohammed Azim, was responding to criticisms of the way her father had chaired a full council meeting in July.

Her letter said that the advice from Charlton, who sits next to the Lord Mayor at meetings, was “one of the reasons why the council meetings are chaotic”.

However in her letter of apology, which was written on August 29 but made public today, Bi expressed regret at her comments.

She wrote: “I apologise wholeheartedly for mentioning you in that letter. My response was based on emotion and from a position of misunderstanding.

“I regret any impact this may have had on you professionally.”

Charlton is stepping down from her post at the end of this month after 11 years in the role. A council statement said she is leaving to “pursue new career opportunities and to spend time with her family”.

Charlton said: “I would like to thank the council for acknowledging my contribution during the time I have worked for the council and I wish the politicians and colleagues continued success in the council’s journey.”

Her resignation is the authority’s third senior resignation in nine weeks.

The news of Charlton’s departure comes just days after Waheed Nazir, the driving force behind the re-shaping of Birmingham, announced he is to step down in December, while chief executive Dawn Baxendale, the fourth person in five years to lead the council, is leaving to take up a new position as chief executive of Christchurch City Council in New Zealand.

Baxendale added: “I’d like to thank Kate for her advice and support over the years. I am sure the whole council will join me in wishing her well as she moves on to this next chapter of her life.

“She has been an important part of the senior leadership team at the council for a number of years, and her dedication and professionalism has been invaluable in supporting both politicians and her colleagues.”

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