Oldham’s new ‘timeshare’ boss, her six-figure-salary, and what it all means

A major town hall shake-up across Oldham and Tameside was officially confirmed yesterday (Tuesday). 

It was triggered as Tameside City Council rubber-stamped Harry Catherall as its new chief executive, after he was seconded to the crisis-hit council to ‘help oversee improvements’. 

The two councils agreed to ‘share’ the CEO, with Catherall remaining in Oldham one day a week.

But the decision leaves a gaping hole in the borough’s executive team for the remainder of the working week. 

This is due to be filled by Shelley Kipling, previously the assistant CEO for the council. 

Here, we examine the key questions surrounding Kipling’s appointment. 

Who is the new boss? 

Oldham has promoted an assistant chief exec to the role of acting CEO: Shelley Kipling, who has worked in local government since 2003. 

The University of Manchester graduate, who studied Politics and Modern History, first started her career as a council officer in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. 

She moved to Oldham in 2009 as head of communications, where she worked for six years before moving to Manchester City Council in the same role. 

Apparently the lure of Oldham proved too strong to resist, and Kipling returned to the council in 2019, first in a senior strategy role and then as assistant chief executive. 

How much will she earn? 

Kipling will be on £169,125 a year and will work full time.

According to budget papers, Catherall earned between £185k and £190k per annum, but because of his four-day work week, this would have worked out at around £148k to £152k a year. 

The change will also come with a ‘restructure’ for Oldham Council, with no plans to backfill Kipling’s position as assistant chief.

Responsibilities will likely be shared across the existing executive team.

The reshuffle will save between £75k and £123k, according to the council’s assistant finance director Lee Walsh.

How did she get the job? 

The position opened up after Tameside’s leadership went into crisis following a damning report on their children’s services.

The council’s chief executive, Sandra Stewart, quit her post along with Labour leader Ged Cooney after a commissioner stated the authority did not have ‘capacity or capability’ to improve the services ‘without oversight or support’. 

GMCA, Oldham and Tameside came to an agreement to send Oldham’s CEO Harry Catherall to bail out the scandal-hit townhall.

Catherall oversaw the rapid improvement of Oldham’s children’s services in his three years as boss.

Catherall will remain ‘on call’ for Oldham 24/7 and will continue to work for the local authority one day a week.

But someone was needed to take the reins in Oldham for the rest of the time.

Kipling was one of three candidates considered for the position. 

Why has the arrangement sparked controversy? 

The arrangement caused a stir among some councillors in Oldham, who held a 2.5 hour council meeting to discuss the decision last week. 

Many of the councillors commended Kipling’s suitability for the role, with councillor Marc Hince even prematurely congratulating her on the promotion.

But many councillors from opposition groups including the Conservatives, Lib Dems and independents also raised concerns about the ‘timeshare’ arrangement. 

There was a split camp among the sceptics, with some calling for a more even split of three/two days across the councils, and others wondering why Catherall doesn’t leave the job to Kipling entirely instead of ‘keeping one foot in Oldham’.

Councillor Dave Arnott even likened the split to if ‘Pep Guardiola managed Manchester City one day a week and for the other four managed Manchester United’.

What does the arrangement mean for Greater Manchester? 

The arrangement is the latest in a reshuffle of Greater Manchester’s town hall bosses.

Earlier this month, Manchester City Council pinched ex-Salford boss Tom Stannard as their new CEO, leaving Salford with a vacancy. 

For Oldham, the arrangement could kickstart the process of filling Catherall’s shoes long-term.

The CEO was due to retire in 2022 but was kept in post after the council struggled to find the ‘right person’ to be his successor. 

With his contract with Oldham due to run out at the end of the year, there are rumours Catherall may not be returning to Oldham after his six month secondment to Tameside. 

If that is the case, Oldham will have to start another hiring process to nominate a full-time successor.

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