Bournemouth council given no notice as Mouchel boss quits "to boost his career" (From Thisisdorset)
When news happens send us your pictures, video and views. Text BE to 80360 or contact us by email
Bournemouth council given no notice as Mouchel boss quits "to boost his career"
8:21am Tuesday 5th March 2013 in Latest By Darren Slade, Chief Reporter
Tony WIlliams
THE man in charge of the outsourcing operation which took over the work of several Bournemouth council departments has quit the company.
Bournemouth councillors were given no notice that Tony Williams, partnership director for the Mouchel Group in Bournemouth, was leaving.
Around 480 council staff were transferred into Mouchel’s employment in deals worth around £180million to the company over 10 years.
The outsourcing was aimed at finding millions of pounds in efficiency savings.
Mouchel has since suffered a string of problems nationally, with the company going into administration in 2012 and being thrown a lifeline by a consortium of banks.
Councillors were told in an email that Mr Williams had “decided to move on from Mouchel”.
He had been deciding on his “future career aspirations” and believed it would be “less disruptive” to leave before Mouchel adopted a new operating model.
Council leader Cllr John Beesley said Mr Williams had headed the Bournemouth partnership for more than two years. “He wanted, as I understand it, to move on to other opportunities,” he said.
He said the partnership was still on course to help the council deliver at least £326m in savings and efficiencies by 2020/21.
Cllr Beesley sits on a transformation board which holds Mouchel’s performance to account.
He said the board regularly looked at “ways we can improve”.
“That can be quite challenging at times but you’d expect it to be,” he said.
“I’m quite demanding but I always have been of business partners, colleagues and anybody else I’m involved with. I don’t think the residents of Bournemouth would thank me if I wasn’t. I’m demanding but I hope at all times perfectly reasonable.”
Independent group leader Cllr Anne Rey – who called the outsourcing deal the “biggest mistake we’ve ever made” – wanted more information.
“I think there may be a question at council. We’re going to have to find out from the chief executive about it because it’s very sudden. Perhaps things aren’t as tickety-boo as people want to make out.”
Labour group leader Cllr Ben Grower said: “I think he’s probably decided to jump a sinking ship but I don’t know.”
Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Carol Ainge said she was “sad” at the departure of several senior personnel at Mouchel.
Craig Apsey, Managing Director of Mouchel Business Services, said: "Mouchel is committed 100% to giving the best possible service to the people of Bournemouth. Interim arrangements are in place to ensure complete continuity of service and an announcement on the new leadership will be made in the near future once agreed with Bournemouth Borough Council."
Comments(16)
BIGTONE
says...
9:12am Tue 5 Mar 13
Lord Spring
says...
9:59am Tue 5 Mar 13
Anyhow he was leaving with immediate effect
bea
says...
10:09am Tue 5 Mar 13
Mr Angry.
says...
10:38am Tue 5 Mar 13
Mr Angry.
says...
10:41am Tue 5 Mar 13
BmthNewshound
says...
11:31am Tue 5 Mar 13
.
Secondly, in outsourcing contracts I have worked on the terms and conditions stipulated that the client had to be informed if a senior manager was due to leave and be given the right to approve the appointment of their replacement.
.
Thirdly, What does this say about the relationship between Mouchel and Bournemouth Council ? Beesley may do a lot of posturing and talk the talk but clearly the management at Mouchel have treated him and the rest of the Council with complete contempt. Beesley pushed through the Mouchel deal based solely on the alleged financial savings. I’ve always thought that this contract would cost us in the long run and I think events are proving me right.
.
Beesley said “I’m demanding but I hope at all times perfectly reasonable.”. Reasonable, that’s a laugh. He’s a dictator but whereas Charon was an outright bully, Beelsey uses a much more subtle and cowardly approach to getting his own way.
.
Once again a private contractor due to make a lot of money out of Bournemouth tax payers has stuck two fingers up at the town hall. Nice one Beesley.
cycopath
says...
11:51am Tue 5 Mar 13
BmthNewshound wrote:Going quite well until the allegation that Peter Charon was a bully,just because people within the council did not like being corrected and told what to do he got labelled,unfairly in my view.
Firstly, the likelihood is that Mouchel would have been aware of Williams departure at least 3 months ago as this is generally the minimum notice period for senior managers within large organisations. So his decision is unlikely to be sudden or without notice.
.
Secondly, in outsourcing contracts I have worked on the terms and conditions stipulated that the client had to be informed if a senior manager was due to leave and be given the right to approve the appointment of their replacement.
.
Thirdly, What does this say about the relationship between Mouchel and Bournemouth Council ? Beesley may do a lot of posturing and talk the talk but clearly the management at Mouchel have treated him and the rest of the Council with complete contempt. Beesley pushed through the Mouchel deal based solely on the alleged financial savings. I’ve always thought that this contract would cost us in the long run and I think events are proving me right.
.
Beesley said “I’m demanding but I hope at all times perfectly reasonable.”. Reasonable, that’s a laugh. He’s a dictator but whereas Charon was an outright bully, Beelsey uses a much more subtle and cowardly approach to getting his own way.
.
Once again a private contractor due to make a lot of money out of Bournemouth tax payers has stuck two fingers up at the town hall. Nice one Beesley.
Tom 'Boscombe' Jones
says...
3:34pm Tue 5 Mar 13
Tom 'Boscombe' Jones
says...
3:35pm Tue 5 Mar 13
BmthNewshound wrote:I agree.
Firstly, the likelihood is that Mouchel would have been aware of Williams departure at least 3 months ago as this is generally the minimum notice period for senior managers within large organisations. So his decision is unlikely to be sudden or without notice.
.
Secondly, in outsourcing contracts I have worked on the terms and conditions stipulated that the client had to be informed if a senior manager was due to leave and be given the right to approve the appointment of their replacement.
.
Thirdly, What does this say about the relationship between Mouchel and Bournemouth Council ? Beesley may do a lot of posturing and talk the talk but clearly the management at Mouchel have treated him and the rest of the Council with complete contempt. Beesley pushed through the Mouchel deal based solely on the alleged financial savings. I’ve always thought that this contract would cost us in the long run and I think events are proving me right.
.
Beesley said “I’m demanding but I hope at all times perfectly reasonable.”. Reasonable, that’s a laugh. He’s a dictator but whereas Charon was an outright bully, Beelsey uses a much more subtle and cowardly approach to getting his own way.
.
Once again a private contractor due to make a lot of money out of Bournemouth tax payers has stuck two fingers up at the town hall. Nice one Beesley.
oldgiraffe
says...
4:12pm Tue 5 Mar 13
High Treason
says...
7:12pm Tue 5 Mar 13
xyz777
says...
7:22pm Tue 5 Mar 13
Tictock
says...
10:34pm Tue 5 Mar 13
rotcoddam
says...
10:59pm Tue 5 Mar 13
Azphreal
says...
11:31am Wed 6 Mar 13
aerolover says...
9:00am Tue 5 Mar 13
What is wrong with Bournemouth council can't they get anything right?