Legal boss to quit £90k council job

AILEEN JOHNSON

THE most senior legal officer at Oldham Council will leave her £90,000 job in three month’s time.

Chief executive Charlie Parker today confirmed that Aileen Johnson, director of legal and democratic services, has decided to step down at the end of January.

Mrs Johnson joined the council eight years ago and has headed the council’s legal division for the past five.

Before that she was head of legal and administrative services, and also worked at Salford and St Helens councils and the customs and excise. The council’s assistant director for legal services, Paul Entwistle, take over the role of borough solicitor until a permanent appointment is made. Mr Parker said: “I have accepted Aileen’s decision to leave the council. She has decided that she wants to pursue other interests and we must respect her wishes. I have only known Aileen for a brief period but other colleagues on our management team have known her much longer and speak very highly of her and the contribution she has made to the council.”

The leader of Oldham Council, Howard Sykes, also paid tribute. He said: “Being the council’s top legal officer is not the easiest job in local government, but in all the time I have worked with Aileen she has been both professional and fair minded in the advice she offered as well as a conscientious and committed officer.”