City of York Council boss takes early retirement with £404,000 payout

The Chief Executive of City of York Council worked her final day today as it was announced she would be taking an early retirement with a £400,000 pay off.

There had been speculation about Mary Weatsell’s departure since she went off sick last summer, shortly after the Liberal Democrats took control of the council.

And it has been reported she was previously planning on taking the council to an employment tribunal.

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But a statement from City of York Council today said her early retirement was “was approved by [the] Staffing Matters and Urgency Committee on February 17 on the grounds of efficiency”.

Stock photo of York city centre. Photo: JPI MediaStock photo of York city centre. Photo: JPI Media
Stock photo of York city centre. Photo: JPI Media

And when questioned further a spokesperson said the word “efficiency” referred to a restructure of the council’s corporate management team, prompted by Ms Weatsell’s retirement, which Head of Finance Debbie Mitchell said would save the authority around £80,000 a year.

The council had previously not confirmed the payout given to Ms Weatsell but this has now been revealed to stand at £404,000 and Lib Dem council leader Keith Aspden thanked her for her service.

Ms Mitchell said: “The majority of this sum around £330,000 is statutory payments and pension strain costs to the authority that have to be paid.”

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But Deputy Leader of the Labour Group, Councillor Anna Perrett, said: “The council is leaving itself open to ridicule on a national scale both with the Lib Dem council leader’s bumper payoff to get rid of the Chief Executive, the reasons for which are still shrouded in secrecy, and now with a new senior structure proposed that replicates the chief executive role but under a new title, on pretty much the same pay that an existing member of staff will simply fall into.

“The new structure has come about solely because Coun Aspden needs to deal with the political problem of paying off the chief executive, something Labour voted against. It’s entirely inappropriate to think major decisions on how the council is structured are being made in this manner, something Labour is also completely opposed to.”

However Coun Aspden previously said he had offered to meet with Labour to discuss the matter.

He said today: “On behalf of the council, I would like to thank Mary for her time as Chief Executive of the organisation and for the services delivered to the people and York during her employment. The council extends their very best wishes to Mary and her future.”

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Ms Weatsell said: “I am proud and privileged to serve as the Chief Executive of the one of the finest cities in the world with its wonderful culture and history and fantastic prospects for the future.”