Council chief executive faces calls to resign over leisure centre fiasco (From Watford Observer)

Three Rivers District Council chief executive Steven Halls faces calls to resign over leisure centre fiasco

11:10am Wednesday 20th February 2013 in News By Ben Endley, Senior reporter

Politicians are calling for Three Rivers District Council chief executive Steven Halls to resign in the wake of the debacle surrounding the William Penn Leisure Centre construction.

The motion will be put forward by Conservative Group leader Councillor Chris Hayward at next week’s full council meeting and will request Dr Halls carries the can for "a succession of large construction projects that have turned to disaster", adding that William Penn is "just the latest and the worst".

Work began to build two new pools, an exercise centre and a gymnasium in March 2007 however the new facilities were not open to the public until May 2010 at a cost of £9.1 million, more than double the original estimate.

The motion goes on to say: "The Chief Executive has the ultimate responsibility and accountability for this catastrophic situation and accordingly this Council requests the Chief Executive’s resignation."

However, the motion could face strong opposition in the chamber with a senior figure in the ruling Liberal Democrat party describing the motion as "just the Conservatives trying to make a bit of trouble".

Deputy leader Councillor Les Mead said: "It is crazy really, I just cannot understand it.

"At committee meetings we are all friendly and all get on so well. This is the first I have heard of this but we were all expecting something."

Labour leader Councillor Stephen King said: "We have not discussed it as a group but my personal preference is I wouldn’t support it."

Dr Halls, who earns in the region of £116,000, joined the council in 2003. In 2008 he reduced his working week down to four days to "maintain his work-life balance".

A second motion requests the chief executive to publish the legal grounds under which the amount of money recovered during a recent mediation hearing can be considered exempt from the Freedom of Information Act.

A response says the mediator drew up the confidentiality agreement which could result in any councillor who discloses the figure facing legal action. Any disclosure that could result in an actionable breach of confidence is exempt under section 41 of the act.