Cumbria rescinds top appointment

Cumbria Council has cancelled the appointment of its new director
of social services following local press reports alleging he had
left two previous high-profile positions after breaching his
contract.

Ken Young had been due to take up the post last week but the
council issued a statement saying it had become aware of
“potentially serious allegations” about his suitability for the
job.

Young, who was recommended for the job at the zero-rated department
by the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (Solace),
resigned as director of East Sussex social services in the 1980s.
He then joined charity Scope for three years but resigned in 1991.
Both organisations refused to comment on the circumstances
surrounding his resignations.

In a statement, Cumbria Council said both sides had reconsidered
Young’s position in the light of the “potential damage to
confidence among staff and public” caused by the media
coverage.

A spokesperson for Solace admitted that the checking procedures
were not as formal as they should have been and would be reviewed
and tightened.