A NEW 'interim' chief executive is about to be appointed at Worcestershire County Council for up to nine months, it has emerged.

With current boss Clare Marchant about to quit County Hall, the Conservative leadership has hatched a plan to hire a new boss on a temporary basis.

The Worcester News can reveal how Stephen Stewart, who has worked with top-tier councils in areas such as York, Northumberland and Sunderland, is expected to be appointed to the role tomorrow.

The search for a new boss has been led by Conservative leader Councillor Simon Geraghty behind-closed-doors in recent weeks, ever since Ms Marchant announced her intention to step down.

A new report says the appointment is expected to last "six to nine months" to give the Tory administration more time to mull over a longer-term solution.

The temporary tactic comes at a time when the Labour Party is calling for a review of the chief executive role altogether.

Malvern Gazette:

During the length of his stay Mr Stewart will still be paid the same as Ms Marchant, who is on £155,000-a-year.

This newspaper understands part of the reason he won over County Hall's appointments panel is because of his track record for children's services.

During his time running Northumberland County Council they were one of the few in the UK to earn an 'outstanding' grading from Ofsted for child protection.

Worcestershire's children's services are still reeling after being graded 'inadequate' by inspectors.

Mr Stewart, pictured below, also led the creation of Northumberland's top-tier council by merging together seven pre-existing authorities in a huge shake-up back in 2009.

Malvern Gazette:

He has also held top roles at councils in Wakefield and Leeds, Sunderland and York.

A vote of all 57 councillors will take place at County Hall tomorrow over his temporary appointment, with a report saying it would "allow for further consideration of the nature of the permanent post and recruitment to it".

The report adds: "Mr Stewart has a wealth of experience at senior levels in local government, including chief executive at Northumberland County Council and interim chief executive at York.

"During his tenure, Northumberland was one of the few councils in the country to be rated 'outstanding' for children's safeguarding, and he was directly involved in major economic regeneration in York."

Malvern Gazette:

Ms Marchant's last working day at County Hall will be June 29, before she takes over at university admissions service UCAS.