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Former Harrogate Borough Council chief executive to take on new role

Harrogate Borough Council’s former chief executive Wallace Sampson OBE is set to take on a new advisory role at a company that provides services to local authorities.

Former Harrogate Borough Council chief executive to take on new role Harrogate Borough Council’s former chief executive Wallace Sampson OBE is set to take on a new advisory role at a company that provides services to local authorities. Mr Sampson was in charge of HBC from 2008 until it was abolished on March 31 this year to make way for North Yorkshire Council. He will join the strategic advisory panel of Commercial Services Group, which is owned by Kent County Council and supplies services to the public sector including in HR, energy and procurement. According to its website it serves 15,000 customers in over 85 countries. The company said this week that the three person panel will also include former Harrogate Borough Council councillor for Oatlands, Alex Raubitschek, and the former CEO of Staffordshire County Council. Mr Sampson wrote on LinkedIn to confirm the appointment. He said:

“I am excited to announce that I will shortly be joining the Strategic Advisory Panel of Commercial Services Group. “I am keen to use my significant local government experience to support CSG as a strategic adviser and to be a critical friend where necessary. "CSG are an ambitious company with a strong desire to grow their business within the public sector and I look forward to working with the executive team to support their ambitions.”
All seven district council chief executives lost their jobs in March due to local government reorganisation. The new council is led by the former North Yorkshire County Council chief executive Richard Flinton. Mr Sampson’s employment would have automatically transferred to North Yorkshire Council but lawyers warned that NYC was likely to refuse to recognise him as an employee so it could have lead to an unfair dismissal claim. He received a contractual redundancy payment of £71,633 plus £29,641 for a 12-week notice period he did not have to work. It was a lower settlement than other chief executives in North Yorkshire. Hambleton District Council faced criticism after offering a £225,000 pay-off for outgoing boss Justin Ives. By Thomas Barrett, Local Democracy Reporter Read more local stories from Your Harrogate here.

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