Reynolds said the recent children’s commissioner’s report into the authority’s children’s services revealed “unacceptable working practices and conditions for staff at the council”.
“In our view this has been to detriment of delivering the services our constituents need and expect,” the statement added.
He said that since the report had been published “we have made clear that a change of corporate leadership was required”, adding that “Tameside now has the opportunity to move forward and we embrace the chance to do so”.
Ms Stewart’s departure was confirmed in a statement released by the council following a meeting to discuss children’s services, at which Ms Stewart was not present.
The statement, in the form of a letter to councillors from Ms Stewart, said she would now be focusing on her role heading up the Greater Manchester Pension Fund, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
“Further updates regarding arrangements in the short term will be provided in the coming days,” the letter continued.
The authority’s director of resources, Ashley Hughes, is set to act up as chief executive ahead of a permanent appointment being made, the council said.
Tameside Children’s Services received its second inadequate warning from Ofsted within a five year period in February.
Since then, the deputy leader of the council Bill Fairfoull was replaced in his role leading children’s services by Teresa Smith.
