By Donal McMahon
A Northern Ireland council’s deputy chairperson has raised concerns the local authority may be putting itself “at massive risk” over a failure to recruit new directors.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (NMDDC) is currently without the senior managers in a number of its departments for over a year.
A recent audit report to councillors showed three out of six directors, including the deputy chief executive, left the council in the middle of 2022 and have yet to be replaced. The chamber also heard another director (environment) is leaving in the coming weeks.
Downpatrick SDLP rep, Gareth Sharvin said: “It may be a short lived risk, but we need to acknowledge that it is a risk.
“May be come January we close the risk out, but I think we need to be able to track it in the event that we don’t close out recruitment come early next year.
“How can I accept this risk report as it stands, when a massive risk could yet still be added?”
A council officer responded: “In relation to the recruitment of directors, we can look to see if we run a separate risk or we can run with one of the corporate risks that we have.
“In as far as managing the risk, you’ll be aware of the timetable presented and that a panel has been identified and a realistic timetable for recruitment put in place.”
On the advice of CEO Marie Ward, the risk register was accepted by councillors with potential future risks to be identified.
ENDS
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