CHANGES are taking place at the highest level of the town hall as several senior officers have left the town hall in quick succession.

This includes both the finance and education chiefs at the local authority.

But Bury Council says there is "nothing new" about staff changes in a large organisation.

A spokesman said: “Bury Council is the largest employer in the borough, and there is always a turnover of staff in all departments and at all levels."

Steve Kenyon, who is leaving the council after 30 years "for pastures new", is the first to be replaced.

Mike Woodhead, currently chief finance officer of Bury's clinical commissioning group (CCG), was appointed to the role on Wednesday. He will be responsible for finance at both the council and the CCG.

Education chief Paul Delbridge-Smith quit his job at the town hall eight months after taking the post. His departure cost the council £23,179 for notice pay and outstanding leave.

A council spokesman said Mr Delbridge-Smith made the decision to step down in order to pursue a career in consultancy.

But Conservative leader James Daly has accused the council of “paying off” Mr Delbridge-Smith after he criticised the leadership within Bury’s education sector.

He said: “The inept management of Bury Council continues to cost taxpayers thousands and has a real impact on important front-line services. At a time when we need to be supporting Bury’s schools, Mr Delbridge-Smith has been paid off after less than 12 months in the job having produced a report which was highly critical of leadership within the education sector in the borough.”

Cllr Daly described the report as a “damning indictment of educational standards in this borough” at a council meeting two weeks ago.

Responding, council leader Rishi Shori said: “The loss of Paul Delbridge-Smith, who certainly invigorated myself and others with his straight-talking style, shows that we need to improve standards in our schools and we want to work proactively with them.”

An interim assistant director for education and inclusion, Julien Kramer, has now been appointed and a permanent replacement is expected by the start of the new school year.

Other departures since February include the head of transport, through natural retirement, and the interim head of communications whose temporary fix-term contract finished.

Concerns were raised about executive director business, growth and infrastructure Paul Patterson leaving his post but a council spokesman said he is still employed by Bury Council.