Tendring: Council officers to get £194,000 pay off (From Echo)

Tendring: Council officers to get £194,000 pay off

TENDRING Council's three highest-earning officers are to walk away with a £194,000 golden parachute.

The pay-off was rubber-stamped in a behind-closed-doors session of the council.

It is thought that the authority’s chief executive, John Hawkins, deputy chief executive Roy Coulter, and assistant chief executive Roger Stewart will receive massive settlements.

A confidential report seen by the Gazette last year revealed the move was part of a cost-cutting cull of senior staff, which could save the council £96,161 a year.

But it is thought the trio will be given a total of £194,379 in early release costs.

Chief executive John Hawkins, who earns more than £120,000 a year, is expected to pick up a settlement of £73,201, Deputy chief executive Roy Coulter and assistant chief executive Roger Stewart, who earn more than £100,000, would pick up £62,201 and £58,687.

The current management board, made up of Mr Hawkins, Mr Coulter and Mr Stewart, could be replaced by a new chief executive and three new executive directors on a new salary grade.

Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the Taxpayers' Alliance, said: “It’s right that the council are looking at cost-cutting, but handing out £200,000 in pay-offs is an expensive way to do it.

“The Audit Commission have found that many local government executives pocket these massive golden goodbyes and then walk straight into new council jobs.

“These staff have earned a lot from taxpayers already without handing them a small fortune to leave.”