Swale Borough Council has a new interim chief executive after 17 months with no one at the helm.

The appointment of Mike Fisher, former council chief executive on the Isle of Wight, is to be confirmed at a full council meeting on Wednesday.

Mr Fisher will not be moving to Swale, however, but coming to Kent for three days a week and going back to the Isle of Wight for the rest of the week, at the expense of Swale taxpayers.

Council leader Andrew Bowles says the council is keen not to repeat the mistakes made in the appointment of former chief executive Mark Bilsborough, who was sacked in April.

His dismissal followed a 15-month inquiry, in which complaints by staff of harassment, intimidation and victimisation were upheld.

Mr Bowles said: “Mike Fisher lives on the Isle of Wight and does not want to relocate.

“We looked at a lot of CVs and he was the best person for Swale.”

But Mr Fisher does not want the job permanently, and Mr Bowles added that Swale was looking at long-term plans.

He said: “We are considering all the options, whether to have a full-time chief executive as before or maybe an alternative, perhaps using consultants.”

Ironically, the council improved without a chief executive, according to an Audit Commission report released in April.

But Mr Bowles said Mr Fisher may have contributed to the improvement, as he worked as a consultant for two days a week for a short period last year.

It is expected Mr Fisher will start later this month, and work for the council for at least six months.

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