Suspended Birmingham City Council boss received £200,000 in wages

Jan 24 2010 By Jeanette Oldham

He said: “I’m astounded that Birmingham City Council should keep someone on gardening leave for two years and in particular apparently months after being exonerated.

‘‘This is a huge waste of council taxpayers’ money.

‘‘The work that he could have undertaken in that period would have been of benefit to the many hundreds of employees now taken into a redundancy situation.

‘‘The stress and morale among the workforce is perhaps at an all time low.’’

And Khalid Mahmood, MP for Perry Barr, said: ‘‘This is a ludicrous waste of public money and in the end we will all be paying for it through our council taxes.

‘‘I have huge concerns about this department’s overspend and will be asking serious questions about how this was allowed to happen.’’

It is understood Mr Broomes’ lawyers negotiated a compensation settlement deal with the council in November, worth more than £50,000.

Sources close to the director said he is still technically employed by the authority but added: “He will never go back.”

The terms of the deal involved Mr Broomes being made to sign a confidentiality agreement, in part to prevent him from ever talking publicly about his treatment by the council.

A friend said: “He had enjoyed an unblemished career and was highly thought of. He was cleared of any wrongdoing and has been left deeply hurt by what has happened.

“All he wanted was to do the job he was being paid for.

“He has been left very sad by the troubles facing his department.”

Mr Broomes, the council’s most senior Afro-Caribbean officer, was service director for vulnerable adults, playing an important part in a business transformation scheme.

The department’s recent catalogue of problems has included a multi-million pound overspend in its budget for looking after adults with learning, physical difficulties and mental health problems.

Mr Broomes came to the city council in 2003 from Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council where he was acting head of provider services.

The high-flyer, who had a home in leafy Lichfield, Staffordshire, was one of three new service directors hired by Birmingham social services as part of a radical shake-up in the department’s management.

At the time Councillor Susanna McCorry, then Cabinet member for social services and health, described Mr Broomes and the other new appointees as “very impressive candidates”.

She added: “I am confident that their collective experiences and expertise will prove invaluable as we work towards ensuring Birmingham residents receive the very best possible services.”

jeanette.oldham@sundaymercury.net