THE RECOMMENDED chief executive for the council will not be assuming the position, after the council voted against offering him the job.

Roger Parkin, who is currently acting as the interim chief executive for Slough Borough Council, was recommended to be given the permanent job following a lengthy recruitment process.

However, last night (Tuesday) in a private meeting, the council chose to oppose the recommendation, with a motion to reject it finding strong support. The Observer understands that 25 councillors were in favour of the motion, with five against, and five abstentions.

The leader of the Conservative group, Cllr Wayne Strutton, abstained from voting despite having previously described Roger Parkin as 'the wrong man for the job.'

Cllr Strutton explained: "I had already quite clearly raised my concerns, and there was no new information forthcoming during the meeting. If I had voted against him, it would have looked as though my opinion was already pre-determined and I was not keeping an open mind, so I chose to abstain."

The lengthy recruitment process is now set to begin once more for the post of chief executive. Mr Parkin will continue to hold the chief executive position in an interim capacity, until a permanent chief executive is chosen.

Mr Parkin proved to be a divisive recommendation, with one councillor, Cllr Sabia Hussain, claiming in a public meeting that Mr Parkin had been 'abusive and physically aggressive' to a member of staff, had been referred to anger management, and had bullied and insulted members of the council. Mr Parkin did not respond to requests for comment on these allegations.

The appointment sub-committee, which was chaired by then-leader of the council, Cllr Sohail Munawar, chose to proceed with the recommendation regardless.

An independent report into Mr Parkin's conduct, seen by the Observer, suggested Mr Parkin had colluded with others to oust the then-chief executive, Ruth Bagley, and recommended the council consider start a disciplinary investigation into his conduct.

Slough Borough Council, however, chose not to make this report available to the public, arguing that to do so would breach data protection laws.