COUNCIL chiefs have defended the “dual role” of a top director.
They insist that Merran McRae’s extra work with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust can only help her work in Kirklees.
They see nothing wrong in the arrangements confirmed today.
But many will argue that those 36 days of work that Ms McRae gives to the good people of Leeds could perhaps be better served within Kirklees.
She is paid a six-figure sum to work full-time for Kirklees Council and many will insist that should not allow her to be diverted for more than seven weeks into working for another employer, albeit still in West Yorkshire.
We are quite certain that there are plenty of challenges within Kirklees that could test Ms McRae to the full – especially at a time when hundreds are losing their jobs and services are going to be drastically cut in an £80m budget prune.
Few of us have the option of two highly-paid jobs; many would gladly settle for one.
