Chief executive to be recruited at Peterborough’s mayoral body on at least £170k a year

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, led by metro mayor James Palmer, will shortly begin the recruitment process with the chosen candidate receiving between £173,000 and £203,000 a year depending on their “qualifications and experience”.

The role is currently being held jointly by John Hill and Kim Sawyer after their predecessor Martin Whiteley left with a pay-out of £94,500 having been on a salary of £182,000 a year.

Mr Hill and Ms Sawyer were selected as joint chief executives in May 2019 following a recruitment process which cost £19,000, despite the pair already working at the organisation and not applying for the job.

At the time, 20 other people had applied for the role, while it was agreed that the arrangement of joint chief-execs would be reviewed in May 2021.

The latest recruitment process will cost the public body £40,000 with the current chiefs remaining in their role until the end of October or an appointment is made.

The deadline for the appointment process is the end of May, although the combined authority said the Government wants recruitment to take place after scheduled elections for the next mayor on May 6.

If the election is delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic this could push back the recruitment process.