Peterborough City Council is once again facing upheaval at the top of its legal department, with both its current Director of Legal and Governance, Neil McArthur, and his successor, Graham Kitchen, set to leave within weeks of each other.
At a full council meeting today (October 15), members are expected to approve the appointment of solicitor Graham Kitchen as the authority’s new interim Monitoring Officer from 1 November 2025. The role, a key statutory post in every council, ensures the authority acts lawfully, upholds governance standards, and reports any potential breaches.
Kitchen’s appointment comes in the wake of the unexpected resignation of Neil McArthur, who has led the legal and governance directorate for just over a year.
McArthur, who joined the council as its permanent Director of Legal and Governance and Monitoring Officer in June 2024, is stepping down at the end of this month. His departure has not been publicly explained, though it coincides with a postponed code of conduct hearing for a former councillor that McArthur had been due to oversee.
Kitchen, currently the council’s Head of Legal Services and Deputy Monitoring Officer, will step up to cover McArthur’s duties while a permanent replacement is recruited.
However, his tenure will be short-lived: last month South Kesteven District Council confirmed that Kitchen had been selected from six applicants to be their next Director of Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer, following a national recruitment process.
That means Peterborough faces the prospect of losing two senior legal chiefs in quick succession — a blow to continuity at a time when the council faces multiple and complex challenges not least resolving the Hilton Hotel impasse.
According to South Kesteven’s council papers, Kitchen impressed interviewers with his “clear professional expertise and leadership qualities” during a rigorous process that included psychometric testing, technical interviews and a final presentation to councillors.
A report presented to Peterborough councillors ahead of today’s meeting describe Kitchen as “an experienced solicitor with both a private and public sector background.”
Trained in private practice, he became a director and shareholder of a local law firm before moving into local government around eight years ago. Since then, he has held senior legal positions across multiple tiers of local authority work, including a stint at Hampshire County Council as Assistant Head of Legal Services.
Kitchen joined Peterborough in late 2024, bringing expertise in company, contract, property and public law. His short-term appointment will be managed within existing budgets, though the council warned of potential short-term costs if temporary cover is required for his current role.
Chief executive Matt Gladstone said the interim move would ensure legal continuity while recruitment for a permanent director continues with the support of an executive search firm.
However, the latest reshuffle underscores continuing instability at the top of the authority’s governance function. McArthur’s exit after barely a year in post marks another senior departure from a council that has seen several changes in its top legal ranks over the past five years.
A qualified solicitor since 1997, McArthur brought nearly 25 years’ experience in local authority law when he arrived in Peterborough last summer.
His career includes twelve years as General Counsel and three as Chief Executive of the Gambling Commission, followed by interim legal leadership roles at major councils including Nottingham, Winchester, Sandwell, and Birmingham.
He was widely seen as a steadying influence during Peterborough’s ongoing improvement journey, helping the council navigate complex governance challenges and government oversight.
On his appointment, McArthur said he was “looking forward to building on the progress that has been made,” while then-leader Cllr Mohammed Farooq praised his experience in “navigating complex areas of the law.”
His £110,000-a-year post carried sweeping responsibilities, including oversight of the council’s constitution, elections, information governance, complaints and democratic services.
Peterborough City Council dismisses £110,000 a year legal chief
McArthur had also been due to act as the “responsible director” for a code of conduct hearing concerning former Green councillor Kirsty Knight, who faces allegations she breached the members’ Code of Conduct.
The hearing, set for September 1, was postponed at the last minute, with the council citing the need “to ensure all parties have sufficient time to prepare.”
Peterborough City Council confirmed that it remains committed to maintaining its statutory governance functions and ensuring a smooth transition.
But with McArthur leaving and Kitchen preparing to move to South Kesteven, the council faces yet another round of recruitment to fill one of its most vital roles
