Cheshire East Council chief executive steps down
He's been absent for more than six months
By Cheshire Live
Rob Polkinghorne has left his role as chief executive of Cheshire East Council by mutual agreement after being absent for more than six months.
Cheshire East Council’s chief executive has stepped down after being absent from the authority for more than six months.
Rob Polkinghorne has left the role by mutual agreement, with the council now expected to begin recruitment for an interim chief executive.
Mr Polkinghorne took up the post in January 2024 after being appointed as Cheshire East Council’s permanent chief executive in December 2023.
The council had previously said he was unwell and had not been in work since the end of last year.
In a statement, the authority said Mr Polkinghorne and Cheshire East Council had mutually agreed that he would step down from the role so he could focus on his family and future priorities.
His departure comes during a difficult period for the council, which has been dealing with significant financial and organisational pressures.
Cheshire East Council received a non-statutory Best Value Notice from the government in 2025, requiring further assurance over its improvement work and financial sustainability.
The council has also been through changes at senior officer level and is returning to a leader and cabinet model of decision-making after a period operating under a committee system.
For residents, the chief executive role is one of the most important posts at the authority. The chief executive is responsible for the council’s day-to-day corporate leadership and works with elected councillors on major decisions affecting services, budgets and long-term strategy.
Cheshire East Council covers towns and communities including Crewe, Macclesfield, Congleton, Knutsford, Wilmslow, Nantwich and Sandbach.
The authority is responsible for major local services including adult social care, children’s services, highways, planning, waste, libraries and local environmental services.
The council has said recruitment for an interim chief executive will now begin.
A permanent appointment process is likely to follow later, depending on the council’s leadership arrangements and timetable.
Mr Polkinghorne’s departure brings to an end a relatively short period in post, having joined Cheshire East after previously serving as chief executive at Southend-on-Sea City Council.