Council chief quits after investigation (From Daily Echo)
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Southampton City Council's waste boss Andrew Trayer quits after investigation
12:30pm Wednesday 30th May 2012 in Politics
By Matt Smith, Politics and business reporter
Andrew Trayer
THE council boss caught in the heart of an industrial dispute that left more than one million rubbish bags strewn across the streets of Southampton has resigned.
Andrew Trayer, pictured, the city council’s waste and transport boss, was removed from his £75,000-a-year job after council chiefs launched a confidential internal investigation.
The respected senior manager was suspended from his post pending the outcome of the inquiry but has now quit the council.
Mystery still surrounds the reasons for the disciplinary action taken against Mr Trayer which prompted rumour and speculation among workers at the council’s new £14m City Depot. It is understood the probe was not related to financial matters and the police were not called.
A council spokeswoman said Mr Trayer’s resignation was a “personal decision” but refused to confirmor comment on any disciplinary action that was being taken. The council insists such issues are “both internal and confidential matters”. “With Mr Trayer’s resignation, this internal matter is now closed,” she added.
Mr Trayer, who worked for the authority for more than a decade, last year found himself in the middle of a summer of strike action by binmen over pay cuts imposed by the then ruling Tories.
Three months of industrial action by binmen and street cleaners saw mountains of household waste build up all over the city, costing the council £1.1m.
Traffic wardens, social workers, Itchen Bridge toll collectors and librarians were among the council employees to walk out in the bitter row over pay cuts, which Conservatives said safeguarded 400 jobs.
Staff said they had been given no explanation by council bosses as to Mr Trayer’s decision to quit. His job will be split between senior managers while the council decides whether to recruit a new head of fleet, waste and transport.
Latest figures showed recycling rates fell to 24.8 per cent between April and September last year, compared to 27.2 per cent in 2010, as a result of the industrial action.
Comments(29)
andysaints007
says...
12:43pm Wed 30 May 12
Saints+Wigan fan wrote:Why are you calling him 'brave' ?? DOH
Useless Bold Chuffingdale
bigfella777
says...
12:46pm Wed 30 May 12
At the end of the day he was employed and payed his salary by the taxpayer and we have a right to know what he was suspended for.
Saints+Wigan fan
says...
12:47pm Wed 30 May 12
joenice1
says...
12:49pm Wed 30 May 12
Wow, no wonder the country is run out of money. Glad he has gone, they should advatise the job for a less than half the money, bet they could still get someone.
Saints+Wigan fan
says...
12:54pm Wed 30 May 12
Preposterous
Mr Price
says...
1:32pm Wed 30 May 12
Taskforce 141
says...
1:35pm Wed 30 May 12
It was gross misconduct of behaviour...
Condor Man
says...
1:40pm Wed 30 May 12
On the inside
says...
2:18pm Wed 30 May 12
bigfella777 wrote:There is no finding that he was not competent so no basis to accuse him of such.
His post was obviously so vital to the smooth running of his department that they can manage without him,typical.The council is ridden with his incompetent ilk. At the end of the day he was employed and payed his salary by the taxpayer and we have a right to know what he was suspended for.
There is no suggestion he will not be replaced, simply that the position will be reviewed. Standard practice I would have hoped.
It is paid not payed fool.
Shoong
says...
2:22pm Wed 30 May 12
Well maybe if you had done better at your education you too could have had a well paid job. But you didn't so now you complain about someone else who did. That's ridiculous.
ohmywell
says...
2:57pm Wed 30 May 12
ohmywell
says...
2:57pm Wed 30 May 12
ohmywell
says...
2:57pm Wed 30 May 12
business-guru
says...
3:04pm Wed 30 May 12
Shoong wrote:this forum is full of whining ninnies... earning rubbish wages because they could not be ar5ed to study and get qualifications leading to a decent job. £75,000 pa is nothing,,, anyone who thinks that is ridiculous is living in cloud cuckoo land....
I love it when people drone on about a 'ridiculous salary'.
Well maybe if you had done better at your education you too could have had a well paid job. But you didn't so now you complain about someone else who did. That's ridiculous.
Paramjit Bahia
says...
3:21pm Wed 30 May 12
.
This sum could turn out to be handy for buying the loyalty of another boy or girl within Labour Group
.
Who knows even 'Self Confessed Liar' whom NuLabourites have not kicked out of the party may even start staying quite with part of new found pounds
Shoong
says...
3:26pm Wed 30 May 12
Paramjit Bahia wrote:A stark warning to anyone who has not been vaccinated against rabies, get your shots because it looks like it's still out there.
Richard Williams the 'Dear Leader' may decide to save £75000 by not filling this job
.
This sum could turn out to be handy for buying the loyalty of another boy or girl within Labour Group
.
Who knows even 'Self Confessed Liar' whom NuLabourites have not kicked out of the party may even start staying quite with part of new found pounds
Saints+Wigan fan
says...
3:29pm Wed 30 May 12
or its not deserved.
How do you know what sallery im on ...
Try Fighting for your contry then talking bout money big balls.
hulla baloo
says...
3:44pm Wed 30 May 12
Saints+Wigan fan wrote:Looking at your spelling, you probably do not have a high profile job, so probably do not have a high salary
HAHA im happy to complain about other peoples salerys when there doing a terrable job.
or its not deserved.
How do you know what sallery im on ...
Try Fighting for your contry then talking bout money big balls.
Saints+Wigan fan
says...
4:08pm Wed 30 May 12
Try being A combat engineer then come back to me.
Considering the current climate, its hardly worth going to uni as of all of the debts you would have .
So thanks to your so called educated generation, you've ruined the country. Cheers :)
The Salv
says...
4:09pm Wed 30 May 12
business-guru wrote:Absolutely - 75k a year is what the contract draughtsman are earning for the work on the Aircraft carrier. There are about a 100 of them, some from EU Countries. If you want to moan about wasting tax payers money then have a go at BAE. The locals earn about 26-36k a year.
Shoong wrote: I love it when people drone on about a 'ridiculous salary'. Well maybe if you had done better at your education you too could have had a well paid job. But you didn't so now you complain about someone else who did. That's ridiculous.this forum is full of whining ninnies... earning rubbish wages because they could not be ar5ed to study and get qualifications leading to a decent job. £75,000 pa is nothing,,, anyone who thinks that is ridiculous is living in cloud cuckoo land....
TEBOURBA
says...
6:28pm Wed 30 May 12
He was suspended by the Council for reasons not disclosed and subsequently resigned.
As his salary was paid by us, the tax payers, surely we have a right, under the freedom of information act, to know the reasons surrounding his departure.
bigborlotto
says...
6:59pm Wed 30 May 12
bigfella777 wrote:you will never be told the real truth why he left his post. all covered up as usual with the council. incompetent management structure, who hide behind their employment posts, and bully the underdog. this is rife within the council. everything covered up to protect the chain of command. after-all this is not the real word.
His post was obviously so vital to the smooth running of his department that they can manage without him,typical.The council is ridden with his incompetent ilk.
At the end of the day he was employed and payed his salary by the taxpayer and we have a right to know what he was suspended for.
bigfella777
says...
7:10pm Wed 30 May 12
business-guru wrote:True, but I bet there are plenty of educated people who would do such an easy job for half that figure at the moment.
Shoong wrote:this forum is full of whining ninnies... earning rubbish wages because they could not be ar5ed to study and get qualifications leading to a decent job. £75,000 pa is nothing,,, anyone who thinks that is ridiculous is living in cloud cuckoo land....
I love it when people drone on about a 'ridiculous salary'.
Well maybe if you had done better at your education you too could have had a well paid job. But you didn't so now you complain about someone else who did. That's ridiculous.
Ant Smoking MP
says...
7:13pm Wed 30 May 12
Condor Man wrote:So you will support a strike against a Labour Council but not a Tory? Thats a bit political isnt it CM?
I'm looking forward to the unions going back out on strike when the new council realises they can't make their members pay demands. If they don't it will show that last year's strikes were purely politically motivated.
good-gosh
says...
7:27pm Wed 30 May 12
Maine Lobster
says...
8:52pm Wed 30 May 12
bigborlotto wrote:Cover ups and protection of the top nobs not the real world? I suggest you watch the news!
bigfella777 wrote:you will never be told the real truth why he left his post. all covered up as usual with the council. incompetent management structure, who hide behind their employment posts, and bully the underdog. this is rife within the council. everything covered up to protect the chain of command. after-all this is not the real word.
His post was obviously so vital to the smooth running of his department that they can manage without him,typical.The council is ridden with his incompetent ilk.
At the end of the day he was employed and payed his salary by the taxpayer and we have a right to know what he was suspended for.
OceansofRed
says...
12:17am Thu 31 May 12
Fact is the Labour run council has let him go.
Verloren Hoop
says...
5:44am Thu 31 May 12
Saints+Wigan fan says...
12:33pm Wed 30 May 12