{"id":37385,"date":"2022-02-21T15:14:09","date_gmt":"2022-02-21T15:14:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sheffieldwire.co.uk\/?p=37385"},"modified":"2022-02-21T15:14:09","modified_gmt":"2022-02-21T15:14:09","slug":"you-can-trust-us-sheffield-council-response-to-former-leader-calling-for-kate-josephs-resignation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sheffieldwire.co.uk\/index.php\/2022\/02\/21\/you-can-trust-us-sheffield-council-response-to-former-leader-calling-for-kate-josephs-resignation\/","title":{"rendered":"Sheffield Council says \u201cyou can trust us\u201d as former Leader calls for Kate Josephs\u2019 resignation"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Deputy Leader of Sheffield City Council has told Sheffield Wire<\/em><\/a> the council can “very much be trusted” despite a budget crisis and an ongoing investigation into chief executive Kate Josephs.<\/p>\n

Cllr Julie Grocutt<\/a> refused to say what the investigation into Ms Josephs, who admitted attending her own leaving party in the Cabinet Office in December 2020, is aiming to establish.<\/p>\n

The Labour councillor, who is also chairing the investigation, could not be drawn on how long the people of Sheffield will have to wait for an outcome.<\/p>\n

Ms Josephs was head of the COVID-19 taskforce during lockdown and is currently on paid leave from her \u00a3192,000-a-year role at Sheffield Council after apologising<\/a> for her leaving party just minutes before The Daily Telegraph<\/em> broke the news she was there.<\/p>\n

\n

I am today making a statement. I am truly sorry. pic.twitter.com\/xWByiiKfV3<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Kate Josephs (@katejosephs) January 14, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When given the right to reply Kate Josephs did not respond.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, Eugene Walker, executive director of resources, will now take up the role of interim chief executive at Sheffield City Council.<\/p>\n

Cllr Grocutt said: “Eugene has been around a long time, he knows Sheffield well, he knows the council well. He’s ideally placed to take over at this point in time.”<\/p>\n

\"Above:<\/p>\n

Above: Lord Scriven<\/em><\/p>\n

But Lord Scriven, who was Leader of Sheffield City Council for three years until 2011, said the Council is now in the “ridiculous situation” of having two chief executives.<\/p>\n

Lord Scriven said: “This is expensive confusion and it shows a lack of serious leadership by the Leader and Deputy Leader of the council.”<\/span><\/p>\n

He pointed out Ms Josephs could still have full access to her e-mails and could still send letters out as the chief executive of Sheffield City Council as she has not been suspended.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Former Leader of Sheffield City Council @Paulscriven<\/a> says Kate Josephs should be suspended from her \u00a3192,000-a-year role pic.twitter.com\/n1XiqClRHK<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Sheffield Wire (@Sheffield_Wire) February 21, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n