Horsham Rural City Council chief executive Sunil Bhalla has resigned.

A statement released by the council’s media team this morning said Mr Bhalla and council had ‘mutually agreed to part ways’.

Council had a special meeting at 5pm yesterday where the chief executive’s employment was discussed in a confidential committee.

The resignation is effective as of this Friday.

Mr Bhalla’s resignation follows a troubled few months for council – it failed to adopt its annual Budget before the June 30 deadline prompting a Local Government Inspectorate investigation; councillors publicly criticising each other; and a Municipal Monitor being appointed.

Late last month, the Australian Services Union, ASU, hosted a meeting where council staff, both ASU members and non-members, moved a motion of no confidence in the ability of Mr Bhalla to manage the council and protect staff health and wellbeing.

In a letter to Mayor Robyn Gulline and councillors, ASU organiser Billy King wrote the motion related to concern about the chief executive’s leadership style and the ‘impact of that style on that ability’.

The letter outlined staff feeling intimidated, belittled and fearful at work and in their public life; being questioned and abused by members of the public because they work for council; and that Mr Bhalla had ‘an obligation for the health, safety and wellbeing of staff’ but had ‘not done anything to address this awful situation’.

Mr Bhalla joined HRCC as chief executive in March, 2018.

He had signed a four-year contract extension in 2023 – set to end in 2027.

UPDATE: Horsham in search for new CEO as Sunil Bhalla resigns