Oldham council boss transfers to troubled neighbours in Tameside

Tameside Council has called a chaotic week that saw its CEO deposed, its Leader and Deputy Leader resign, two cabinet members sacked - with one later being reinstated – and several other councillors stepping down from their roles, a ‘period of change’.

It also confirmed the Chief Executive of Oldham Council, Harry Catherall, will become Tameside’s Acting Chief Executive until it finds a permanent replacement for the scandal-hit Sandra Stewart. 

“As a Council, we are going through a period of change, but we have all the statutory officers required to ensure the delivery of services for our resident,” a spokesperson for Tameside Council told the Reporter.  

“This includes an Acting Chief Executive. We remain absolutely focused on improving our Children’s Services and recently appointed an Interim Director of Children’s Services.    

“Here in Greater Manchester, we have a system of mutual aid to ensure councils support each other in times of transition. 

“The Greater Manchester Combined Authority is working with us to put in place robust interim arrangements as we progress to the permanent recruitment of the Chief Executive of the Council.  

“We will provide further updates on any progress at the appropriate time.” 

Dr Catherine Driscoll replaces Allison Parkinson – who resigned after an Ofsted inspection found TMBC’s Children’s Services were ‘inadequate’ - as the temporary head of Children’s Services, after holding the same role in Dudley between 2021 and August 2024. 

She has also been Head of Adult Social Care and the Director of Children, Families and Communities at Worcestershire County Council for a total of 12 years 

Dr Driscoll also works as a freelance consultant and is an Associate Non-Executive Director at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust.