Peterborough City Council remains in the process of finding a new legal chief following two resignations in recent months.

Neil McArthur left his role of director of legal and governance (monitoring officer) for the council at the end of October.

His former deputy Graham Kitchen took over on an interim basis, but now Mr Kitchen himself has resigned and will leave the council on January 25.

The city council confirmed that external job adverts had recently closed for the roles of monitoring officer and deputy monitoring officer.

An extraordinary employment committee meeting will take place on Monday, December 15 at Sand Martin House in Peterborough relating to the appointment of a new monitoring officer. Press and the public are excluded from this meeting.

Members of the committee are recommended to interview and if appropriate appoint to the post of monitoring officer and, if an appointment is made, determine and agree the appropriate salary within the council’s senior manager pay structure.

The role, which currently has a salary range of £120,000 to £125,000 a year, involves reporting on matters believed to be illegal or amounting to maladministration, as well as being responsible for matters relating to the conduct of councillors and officers, and the operation of the council’s constitution.

The post-holder also leads on electoral services, democratic and constitutional services, and information governance.

It is one of three statutory roles that any council must have, the others being chief executive and section 151 officer.

Upon Mr McArthur’s resignation in October, Peterborough City Council’s chief executive Matt Gladstone said: “I’d like to thank Neil for his time working for Peterborough City Council and for the support and guidance he has provided on legal and constitutional matters.”

Mr Kitchen resigned from his post to assume the role of monitoring officer at South Kesteven District Council next year.