Council boss quits one month after Reform win

The chief executive of a county council has quit his £209,000 a year role a month after Reform UK took control of the authority.

Tom McCabe resigned from running Norfolk County Council, which he had done since 2018.

His resignation follows the Reform administration telling council officers to stop working towards a planned shake-up of local government in Norfolk, which would abolish district and county councils for a new unitary system.

McCabe said: "It is with mixed feelings that I have made this decision. Norfolk has been my family's home for the last 13 years and we have felt welcome from day one."

David Bick, the leader of the county council, thanked McCabe for his service to Norfolk and wished him "well for the future".

McCabe added: "I have enjoyed working for the county council and the many wonderful staff we have – it has been a real honour to lead the team.

"I will take a step back now, recharge my batteries and then see what opportunities present themselves in the future."

McCabe's resignation comes at a challenging time for the council, which, under government plans, is expected to be abolished and replaced with three unitary authorities next year.

The authority has launched a legal challenge against the plans, under the direction of the Reform Party's leadership.

If the judicial review is accepted by the High Court, it would lead to a hearing, where the lawfulness of the government's decision-making process will be examined.

Kay Mason Billig, the former Conservative leader of the council, said: "[McCabe] diligently served the council. I cannot tell you exactly why he resigned but common sense says, he felt his position was no longer tenable.

"Having been appointed as lead officer for local government reorganisation, he was then told by his Reform masters to down tools. He was put in an impossible position."

Lucy Shires, the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrat group at Norfolk County Council, said there were "no indications" that McCabe was unhappy in his role a month ago.

Maxine Webb, the leader of the Green group at the authority, said McCabe's departure leaves a "gaping hole".

"This sudden departure will be hugely unsettling for staff, already working through a prolonged period of uncertainty and change, with more ahead," she added.

"The council needs stability and consensus not chaos and division," she said.

The council said it will conduct a short internal process to appoint an acting chief executive, while commencing recruitment for the permanent post.

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