SOMERSET County Council has appointed a temporary replacement for its finance director, who will cost nearly £1,000 a day.

The County Gazette reported at the end of April that Kevin Nacey would be leaving his position with the authority after 31 years.

An interim finance director will take his place from the end of July while the council seeks a permanent replacement.

The council must have a director of finance by law, and is currently recruiting for Mr Nacey’s permanent replacement.

For the next six months, his place will be taken by interim officer Peter Lewis – at a cost of £900 per day, plus agency fees of up to £270 per day.

The council says the new director brings 'considerable experience' to the role.


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A Somerset County Council spokesperson said: “We can confirm that the council’s appointment committee has appointed an interim finance director.

"This is on a six-month basis, beginning at the end of July, while a recruitment process for a permanent replacement is undertaken.

“The successful applicant, Peter Lewis, brings considerable experience having worked for numerous local authorities in finance and corporate services roles.

"His role will be purely to focus on the finances of the organisation and to lead the finance team.”

Chris Squire, the council’s director of HR and organisational development, said: “The financial challenge facing the council is such that an experienced, well-regarded interim is needed in [this] post.”
Some of the governance and legal responsibilities normally handled by the director of finance will be temporarily transferred to Mr Squire’s department, in order to allow Mr Lewis to “focus solely on finance functions” during the interim period.

Mr Squire said the council’s deputy finance officers had been consulted after Mr Nacey announced his resignation, but said that they were “unwilling to take on the substantive duties” associated with the role.

He added that appointing an interim would give the council an idea of “where our skills and capacity might need to be enhanced”, and where further changes in the make-up of its finance team may be needed.

According to the 2017 senior leadership salaries released by the council, Mr Nacey was earning £103,020 a year, with £13,907 in pension contributions. 

Council chief executive Patrick Flaherty said: “Kevin has been an outstanding servant to the council and the people of Somerset, and he will be missed.

“We all wish him the very best for the future in his new role, and I hope that everyone at the council will show Kevin their appreciation of him.”

Mr Lewis has been employed through an agency, and the council will not pay for leave taken, sick pay or pension contributions during his employment.

He is not the same Peter Lewis that previously worked for the council as its interim director of children’s services, before being dismissed in October 2014.