Tameside's long-standing chief executive has resigned with 'immediate effect'

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Tameside’s long-standing chief executive has suddenly resigned after more than three decades working at the council. Steven Pleasant, who has held the role of head of the local authority’s staff since 2009, after joining the town hall in 1988, has told councillors he is stepping down with ‘immediate effect’.

It is understood his sudden resignation precedes an extraordinary meeting of the full council, due to be held next week, where a vote was due to take place on his ‘conduct’.

This related to a message he posted on Twitter ahead of the local elections, which has since been deleted. He used his official chief executive Twitter account to respond to comments made by a Conservative voter on BBC’s Question Time, where a clip from the TV programme showed an audience member who voted for the Tories telling minister Damian Hinds his government was a ‘disappointment’. READ MORE: MP wants children’s services taken from council after ANOTHER scathing report Mr Pleasant replied to the video saying: “She was good.

Tory voter with compassion and empathy for others. Who knew !!” He apologised for the comment, saying it was ‘not considered’ and that he ‘should have worded any sentiments very differently’.