Second legal boss to leave Peterborough City Council in new year
Another top legal employee has resigned from Peterborough City Council.
Neil McArthur left his £120,000-a-year role of director of legal and governance (monitoring officer) at the city council at the end of October, with his former deputy Graham Kitchen taking over on an interim basis.
The authority now faces another departure with Mr Kitchen leaving in the new year to assume the role of monitoring officer at South Kesteven District Council.
Peterborough City Council confirmed that external job adverts had recently closed for the roles of director of legal and governance (monitoring officer) and head of legal services (deputy monitoring officer).
Mr Kitchen’s leaving date was confirmed as January 25.
A South Kesteven District Council report stated: “Graham Kitchen submitted a strong application, which was subsequently reflected in a strong technical interview, written exercise, stakeholder engagement and psychometrics.”
The role of monitoring officer is one of three statutory roles that any council must have, the others being chief executive and section 151 officer.
It 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 monitoring officer also leads on electoral services, democratic and constitutional services, and information governance.
Mr Kitchen is an experienced solicitor with both a private and public sector background.
He was the assistant head of legal services at Hampshire County Council before joining Peterborough City Council in late 2024 and becoming deputy monitoring officer under Mr McArthur.
Upon Mr McArthur’s resignation, 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.”