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A recent report has revealed that Glasgow City Council paid out more than £1m in early retirement and redundancy packages to five senior staff members between 2021 and 2024. The restructuring proposals, which did not undergo independent scrutiny, were approved by individuals directly benefiting from them. Among those who received the payouts was former chief executive Annemarie O’Donnell.
The Actions Commission criticized the senior staff for not upholding the expected values and principles of public sector workers and councillors. According to a spokesperson for the council, steps have already been taken to enhance scrutiny in light of the findings. The restructuring, which took place in 2021, included financial terms for the departures of the five officials, costing a total of £1,035,000.
Ms. O’Donnell’s early retirement at the age of 59 was justified under the efficiency grounds of the restructuring plan. Her departure, after a decade in the role, raised questions about cost savings and succession planning, especially given that the position of chief executive was still available within the council. The report highlighted that the rationale behind her retirement for efficiency purposes was unclear.
Despite an independent investigation yielding no evidence of improper actions by the departing officers, there were concerns about potential conflicts of interest. The Accounts Commission’s deputy chair, Andrew Burns, described the senior staff’s actions as not meeting the expected values of public sector workers. Scottish Conservative finance and local government spokesman Craig Hoy labeled the report as “damning” for the council, emphasizing the need for a change in culture to prevent such incidents in the future
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