Bristol Waste has parted company with its third top boss in just six months, sparking alarm that the latest exit was “concealed” from councillors. The city council’s refuse and recycling firm has confirmed interim managing director Jason Eldridge, 51, stepped down last month because of ill health.
But the “suspicious” timing has caused concern because it comes days before the publication of Bristol Waste’s annual business plan, which is already delayed, and only six months after the resignations on the same day of the previous MD Tony Lawless and finance director Adam Henshaw. No reasons were given for the pair's departures on July 18, other than that Mr Lawless, who had been in charge for four years, had “stepped down” and Mr Henshaw had “left the business to be free to pursue other opportunities”.
Resources scrutiny commission chairman Conservative Cllr Geoff Gollop told a Bristol City Council meeting on Tuesday (February 14) that he was concerned that members had not been informed about the latest departure and had to find out through a public filing at Companies House. Cllr Gollop said: “Last month overview and scrutiny management board (OSMB) members were told the business plan had been delayed.
