York council boss off sick and ’unlikely to return for some time’

The City of York Council chief executive is off on long-term sick leave, officials confirmed today.

Mary Weastell has not been at her desk in the council’s West Offices HQ since the beginning of June, YorkMix understands.

And now it has been confirmed that she will not be returning any time soon.

Her deputy Ian Floyd is acting chief executive in her absence.

Mr Floyd, deputy chief executive and director of corporate and customer services, said:

• Mary Weastell, chief executive of City of York Council, is unwell at the moment and is unlikely to return in the immediate future.

  We wish her a speedy recovery.

  In the meantime I will provide full cover for the chief executive in my role as deputy chief executive, working closely with the corporate management team.
  

There is no information as to the nature of the illness which is keeping the chief executive away from work.

One source in the council told YorkMix that they would be surprised if she returned to work at all.

‘Impressive track record’

Mary Weastell was appointed City of York Council chief executive on 23 May 2016.

She was CEO of Selby council before she took over as permanent successor to York’s acting chief exec Steve Stewart.

The team who appointed her – Cllrs David Carr, Keith Aspden and Janet Looker – said at the time: “With her impressive track record in local government and in delivering key projects, we’re confident she will make a real and positive difference for the people who live, work and visit York.”

Mary said on being appointed:

• I understand the responsibility and expectations that come with the position: to support the politicians and to work with many important and varied organisations and communities to play my part on taking one of the great cities of the world on its next chapter to realise its full potential and ambition.

  I want to focus my efforts through effective partnership working to build on its economic strengths, and create sustainable growth across the city, Yorkshire and beyond.

  There will be many challenges ahead, as local government deals with continued pressure on budgets to deal with social care, for example.

  But I want to look at new ways of doing things so we’re working alongside others to ensure we can deliver the best possible services in the most effective ways.
  

As chief exec, Mary Weastell earns a salary of £135,526, with the total package worth £164,181 including pension.

She was last in the YorkMix headlines when, in her role as returning officer at the local elections, she was in the car driven by the deputy returning officer who parked in a disabled space at Energise where the count was being held.