BURNGREAVE New Deal for Communities' beleagured boss is being made redundant – just a fortnight after the publication of a highly-critical report about the regeneration body.
Chief executive John Clark refused a request to resign by Sheffield Council's new leader Coun Paul Scriven.
But Ronnie Lewin, chairman of BNDfC's board, said: "The position is currently included in redundancy negotiations, which will be finalised at the end of July."
Coun Scriven said Mr Clark should go for recommending the appointment of Bill Husband as his interim deputy, on a salary equivalent to £110,000-a-year.
This was despite Husband's dismissal 12 months previously for gross misconduct at a New Deal agency in London.
Mr Clark also authorised BNDfC's use of "motivational training" company JMJ Group – a company run by Husband and Jack Davies, former chief executive of the London agency, who resigned after also being found guilty of the same gross misconduct charge.
This was despite JMJ – which was paid £55,000 – not being on BNDfC's list of approved contractors.
Davies and Husband were chief executive and deputy chief executive at South Kilburn New Deal for Communities, where they were found guilty of gross misconduct for misuse of property, after living rent-free in a flat meant for use as offices.
A report by Sheffield Council's auditor found the appointment of Husband was "flawed".
Other failings identified at BNDfC included doubts over Husband's references – one of which was obtained from his own company – and failure to quiz him about the South Kilburn affair at his job interview. Not all of the interviewing panel were even made aware of it.
The report also slammed absence of management controls by BNDfC's board of directors, including lack of compulsory training about their responsibilities.
Coun Scriven - who is taking over as Sheffield Council's representative on BNDfC's board – said: "I'm glad that our calls have been listened to and the board has taken action.
"Hopefully, under new management we can now move on and address the weaknesses identified within the audit report.
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