Controversial CEO Parry to leave Gore District Council next month

Friday, 19 April 2024

Gore District Council’s interim chief executive Stephen Parry will leave the council on May 10.

Gore District Council interim chief executive Stephen Parry will leave the council on Friday, May 10, after 22 years in the role.

Parry resigned last year but agreed to remain in an interim role while a permanent successor was found.

The council announced in February that Deborah Lascelles would begin as the new chief executive on June 3.

Councillor Richard McPhail, who has been an intermediary between mayor Ben Bell and Parry after their working relationship broke down, said there would be three weeks between Parry leaving and Lascelles’ arrival, “which we as a council are well-equipped to manage”.

“We are fortunate to have had Steve in this caretaker role. It was a huge ask of him personally, which has enabled the council to maintain business as usual during this period.”

Bell said the council was fortunate to have a wealth of proficient staff.

Mayor Ben Bell, left, and council interim chief executive Stephen Parry had to use an intermediary to communicate after their working relationship broke down. (File photo)

“We have experienced general managers on staff who are more than capable of stepping into the role, and a recommendation will be put up at next week’s council meeting.”

The agenda of the meeting showed that the appointment would be discussed in-committee.

Gore district council chief executive Steve Parry speaks to the media after council votes unanimously for an independent review. [File video]

The council meeting on Tuesday would be Parry’s last.

The last 18 months of Parry’s tenure had been controversial, with protests and a petition calling for his removal after he admitted his working relationship with Bell was ‘’strained’’ and ‘’irreparable’’ just weeks after Bell won the mayoralty.