Senior Worcestershire council officer suspended on full pay
The authority would not answer questions on why he has been suspended.
Last updated 1st Aug 2025
A senior council officer has been suspended on full pay, it is understood.
John Hobbs, Worcestershire County Council’s director of economy and infrastructure, is on a salary of nearly £150,000 a year.
Mr Hobbs, a trained quantity surveyor and solicitor, is among the longest-serving officers at the council having joined in January 2006.
The Municipal Journal has reported that Mr Hobbs has been suspended for four months.
Worcester councillor Richard Udall said Mr Hobbs has not been seen at his desk since last November.
“I have seen the article in Municipal Journal, which indicates John Hobbs has been suspended on full pay for four months,” said Cllr Udall.
“I’m incredibly concerned about this. A highly paid director of economy and infrastructure should not be missing from his desk for so long.
“We need to know why he has been suspended, and if and when he will be returning to work.
“I have asked the chief executive to clarify the situation. I’m concerned, now the issue is out in the open, it has the potential to bring considerable reputational harm to the council.”
A spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council said: “To respect the privacy of employees, and to maintain integrity, the council does not comment on individual staffing matters.”
The authority would not answer questions on why Mr Hobbs was suspended.
Cllr Udall added: “We need to be open and transparent about the issue, we can no longer hide behind confidentiality.
“I have informed the administration that I will ask a formal question at the next meeting of the county council in September and will expect to be given all the facts.
“Mr Hobbs has worked for the county council for nearly 20 years. This is no way to treat a dedicated and loyal officer who has given so much of his working life to public service.
“We are wasting public money by keeping him away from work, it needs a resolution so we can end the uncertainty.
“Paying a senior council officer not to work, for over four months, is not in the public interest. “The leader of the council needs to stop dithering and to get a grip with the situation, she needs to show some leadership and direct the chief executive to resolve the problem without further delay.”