Neil Wilby Media

The chief executive of, arguably, the country’s most controversial local authority has been urged to suspend his newly appointed Interim Head of Legal Services (and Borough Solicitor).

In an email to Harry Catherall at Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, the author of this article, Neil Wilby, has pointed towards the giant social media site, LinkedIn, and the newly updated profile of Alexander Bougatef. 

Alex, as he prefers to be known, replaced Paul Entwistle, a regular on this Neil Wilby Media website (read more here), just over two weeks ago. He signs himself off in emails as ‘Interim Borough Solicitor’ with ‘Monitoring Officer’ on the line below. No mention of the role as Director of Legal Services, Interim or otherwise.

There is, however, an unexpected tension between that sign off and how he presents himself on LinkedIn:

As pointed out already, by several local councillors in the region, lying on LinkedIn is endemic. ‘Bigging up’ is part of game, so they say. But, in this particular case, the circumstances are very different: Alex Bougatef is a high profile lawyer, in whom the 242,089 residents of Oldham Borough must have complete trust. There are also strict Law Society obligations by way of his practicing certificate, particularly related to honesty and integrity.

If the new Borough Solicitor is prepared to lie on social media, what else will he (or has he) lied about? There is also the question of omissions from his LinkedIn profile as research conducted by Oldham councillor, Lewis Quigg (Conservative – Royton North), has thrown up past roles as a male model and entertainer.

The number of jobs recorded in his profile also raises different concerns – eight in eleven years. With that type of unstable employment history there is usually a backstory – and, possibly, not one that might sit well with the role of Borough Solicitor. 

This is the Neil Wilby email to Harry Catherall, in full:

“Harry

“Please accept this email as early notification of a formal complaint against Alex Bougatef.

“He has misrepresented his new role with the Council on the social media site, LinkedIn (see attached images).

“Given the detail provided on LinkedIn of the numerous roles he has held over the years (an uncomfortably large number), an independent arbiter should readily conclude that the misrepresentation is deliberate.

“A clear ethical breach and raises further doubts that I have harboured for some months, more generally, over this officer’s honesty and integrity.

“I am abroad, at present, with limited access to the materials necessary to precisely frame the complaint within the Council’s Code of Conduct and the statutory regulator’s framework.

“But, nevertheless, you are urged to suspend Mr Bougatef without delay. To do otherwise is a tacit (and further) acceptance of dishonesty by the present Council administration.

“Please acknowledge receipt of this email, by return.”

The email was copied to the Council Leader, Cllr Arooj Shah, and Assistant Chief Executive, Shelley Kipling. 

At the time of publication of this article it remains unacknowledged by any of the three recipients. 

Alex Bougatef has been offered the standard courtesy of right of reply.

Further questions will follow as to why, when it was known for almost a year that Paul Entwistle was leaving, a permanent appointment was not made after he left the post on 30th September, 2024.

Follow Neil Wilby on Twitter (here) and Neil Wilby Media on Facebook (here) for signposts to any updates.

Page last updated: Wednesday 16th September, 2024 at 1555 hours

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Picture credit: LinkedIn

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