Somerset Council is once again searching for a permanent chief financial officer (CFO) after its latest candidate, Rachael Sanders, withdrew from the position citing personal reasons. The CFO role—also known as finance director or Section 151 officer—is a legal requirement, responsible for overseeing the council’s budget and managing public service expenditures.
Since the departure of Jason Vaughan in September 2024, the council has depended on interim officers to fill the critical role. Initially, Maria G. Christofi, formerly of Redbridge Council in Greater London, took on the responsibilities. More recently, Clive Heaphy, former chief executive of Middlesbrough Council, has served as the interim CFO.
The council had hoped for stability when it appointed Rachael Sanders from Herefordshire Council ahead of the approval of its annual budget in early March. Her withdrawal now means Mr. Heaphy will continue in the role until March 2027, providing essential continuity until a permanent appointment can be secured.
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A council spokesperson confirmed: “We can confirm that Rachael Sanders has decided not to take up the role as chief finance officer for personal reasons. Clive Heaphy will continue in his role as our chief finance officer until the end of March 2027, subject to contract. This extension provides continuity and stability in our financial leadership during this critical period, while plans to recruit a permanent Section 151 officer are progressed.”
The next 12 months are pivotal for Somerset Council, as it advances the next phase of its transformation programme. This initiative aims to deliver significant savings by streamlining front-line service delivery, which is vital for the council’s long-term financial survival.
Despite these plans, Mr. Heaphy warned in late February that the council will not receive further exceptional financial support from central government. Without this aid, balancing next year’s budget could prove challenging if the transformation programme fails to achieve the necessary savings.
He stated: “We won’t be getting a fourth year of exceptional financial support. If it did, it would be with government intervention. We have to get control of our own lives, and that essentially means cutting costs one way or another—either by reducing services or through transformation.”
The ongoing difficulty in securing a permanent CFO has drawn criticism from opposition councillors. Councillor Diogo Rodrigues, leader of the Conservative group on the council, said the situation reflects poorly on the current Liberal Democrat administration’s management.
Rodrigues commented, “This is becoming the job no one wants, which speaks volumes about the state Somerset Council is in under the Lib Dems. The candidate who pulled out would have been the fifth finance officer in just four years. This level of turnover is not normal and points to political instability at the highest level. This is Lib Dem chaos, and Somerset households are paying the price through higher council tax bills.”