New director charged with transforming town

April 08, 2009

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ROCHDALE Council has appointed a new £120,000-a-year transformation boss to turn the town's fortunes around.

Pam Smith, aged 44, will oversee the authority's corporate services as part of her role as an executive director.

Her appointment was announced just after it was revealed the town hall's existing five-strong leadership team was paid a combined salary of £595,635 last year.

The authority hopes that Ms Smith's appointment will help to boost the town's image and tackle some of the negative perceptions following 12 months of bad publicity as Rochdale repeatedly hit the headlines.

For more on this story see Saturday's Observer.

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The Chef, Spotland (08/04/2009 at 12:09)

Here's the first suggestion for Ms Smith.
Get rid of the 5 strong leadership team ! that will swell the coffers to the tune of half a million a year!
Just think what initiatives could be put into place.
It would have been a good idea to inform the people of Rochdale what credentials this saviour has to show with regard to her appointment.And who does the selecting.
Surely the Township should have a say in what is best for the community.
Not what the few decide behind closed doors!

Henry Kelly, Ireland (08/04/2009 at 15:28)

Why is there not a freeze on recruitment, especially at executive level during this time of austerity?

A. Spokesperson (08/04/2009 at 16:53)

What happened the last director Andy Zuntz looking around the town we know his performance was not good!...have we saved on his salary of £120,00 or have we added to it! The Observer should provide more detail in view of substantial job cuts within the authority!

My inner voice, Rochdale (08/04/2009 at 18:33)

I'd like to wish Mrs Pam Smith the very best in her new role and hope she excels where her colleagues past and present have miserably failed. Can I ask that the "Ms" in this article is corrected as a matter of respect. I do feel the Exec leadership is overpaid and is full of incredibly underperforming and scandalously inept execs, but I do genuinely hope Mrs Smith provides new hope for this poor, neglected and mislead town.

My inner voice, Rochdale (08/04/2009 at 18:39)

A. Spokesman.... no we have not got rid of Andy Zuntx unfortunately, he has just received a pay rise of approx 4.6% I believe. We have lost Ms Margaret Carney as she has toddled off to Sefton Council, sherking all responsibility for the Pay and Grading farcical scandal alongside the other catastrophes shes created. No Exec Leader is worth more than £100,000, we are once again rewarding failure.

Kevin Hutchinson (09/04/2009 at 23:39)

This is a desperate gamble from a clowncil bereft of ideas or direction.
I don't suppose the salary will include the inevitable new town logo and glossy promotional brochure.

Kevin Hutchinson (09/04/2009 at 23:50)

Oh, I forgot to mention that there, obviously, will be no criticism of those who employed her. In fact, I expect they will be recommended for a pay rise. (With pension benefits of course)

MPs gravy train, UK (10/04/2009 at 00:20)

If she succeeds where everybody else has spectacularly failed over the past 40 years she will be worth it.

But the town is now so low I doubt there is anywhere lower to fall. So the only way is up......I hope

The Evangelist33, Rochdale (10/04/2009 at 22:00)

I believe Pam Smith will need all our prayers. Sadly even our Good Lord is not welcome in Rochdale.

Amy Mac, Norden (15/04/2009 at 10:46)

A £120,000 "Director of Transformation" as part of a £600,000 a year senior executive council "dream team"?

I don't no whether to laugh or cry for my town.

If these clowns pitched their crazy ideas to Alan Sugar he could save Rochdale millions every year with 2 short words...

free speech, southwest quadrant (17/04/2009 at 14:59)

What a waste of money, appointing this man!
What is needed is a more effective and efficient police force to monitor and prosecute miscreants who mess up Rochdale!

The Chef, Spotland (22/04/2009 at 10:19)

With regards to Free Speech,Southwest Quadrant,I believe that he/she should read the article properly before making a comment.
It is a woman not a man that has been appointed to the position and her brief is not to be "The new sheriff in town" but to oversee plans to change areas/services to benefit Rochdale!
Whilst not wishing to be negative,I do not believe that a £120,000p/a executive will suddenly bring light to what is a very dark problem. When those she has to work with have been less than impressive and yet still command a combined salary of over 1/2 a million !!

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