CORNWALL Council’s service director for people commissioning Rachael Rothero has resigned from Cornwall Council a month after her wife, the council’s chief executive officer Kate Kennally, went on a sudden leave of absence.

Ms Rothero, who was employed on a salary of around £100,000 while her partner was in charge of the council, has announced she is leaving the unitary authority as pressure mounts on the council to reveal the reasons why Ms Kennally is absent on her full salary of more than £200,000.

In Ms Kennally’s absence, an “interim deputy chief executive” is also being paid to steer the council, which is £1.5 billion in debt.

Ms Rothero’s departure was announced to staff in an email from strategic directors Alison Bulman and Tim Browne. They said: “Rachael has made a significant contribution during her time with the council, bringing a wealth of experience, commitment and leadership to her role and playing an important part in the development of our commissioning approach across children’s and adults’ services.

“We appreciate that news of a senior colleague leaving can naturally create questions about what happens next. Rachael will remain with us until the end of the year, providing time for a planned orderly transition.”

It is understood that sick leave is the official reason given for Ms Kennally’s absence within Lys Kernow (County Hall) in Truro, though it’s believed other aspects of her absence are also being discussed at County Hall.

Her absence was the subject of a chief officers employment committee on Friday, September 25, which lasted for more than six hours and was held in private. A subsequent private meeting was also held this week.

Kate Kennally, chief executive Cornwall Council, is currently absent on her full salary of more than £200,000 ( )

Green Party group leader Cllr Drew Creek is a member of the committee. He said: “We met again on Monday and I can’t really say much more than that. I wish I could to be honest. What I can say is that I was asked to sign a confidentiality agreement before I even got access to the papers of meetings, so I’m bound by that.

“I’ve been really clear with the leader in the meetings that at some point we need to put out a commentary about what’s been going on because, quite rightly, the other 80 members of Cornwall Council, as well as residents, have a right to know what’s going on to a certain degree, mindful of the fact we are talking about an employee of an organisation.

“There’s a balance there. Hopefully, the administration will find some balance going forwards.”

Cllr Creek said any perceived lack of transparency is “reputationally damaging for the council and undermines councillors while we’re out in our communities if people think there’s something going on that they’re not aware of. The other thing I made really clear is people are already fed up with things happening in darkened rooms.”

Ms Kennally is still receiving full pay, while her “stand-in”, interim deputy chief executive Andy Keeling, is being paid on an external contract basis. Council leader Leigh Frost was quizzed by a member of the public during a council meeting in September as to why Cornwall’s taxpayers are funding ‘two chief executives’.

Ms Kennally receives a base salary of £201,661. Mr Keeling was paid around £137,000 to £140,000 per year as the chief operating officer and head of paid service at Leicester City Council, followed by a salary band of £145,000 to £150,000 per year as the chief executive of the Falkland Islands Government.

The council has not issued any further statements concerning Ms Kennally’s absence since their first comment that “the chief executive is currently on a leave of absence.

“This is an important period for the council, with the upcoming budget and other key priorities to deliver, and so interim leadership arrangements are being put in place”