Council Report on Senior Manager Pay & Conditions
At yesterday’s Council meeting, a report on Senior Manager Pay & Conditions – Claim for Restitution, was presented to Members for consideration. The report followed on from an earlier report discussed at Council on 13 March 2024.
Much of the discussion at Council had to be taken in closed session due to the confidentiality of legal advice, however the decisions made following discussions are public and the Council are committed to ongoing transparency regarding these matters wherever possible.
Cllr David Blackwell, Leader of Castle Point Borough Council, said: “Following consideration of the report to Full Council and advice from the Council’s legal advisers, Council has taken the decision to pursue recovery of £281,155 paid to the late Chief Executive as additional payments to the flexible retirement scheme through annual leave buy back and the performance related pay which the late Chief Executive awarded to himself.”
“Unfortunately, we have had to make the difficult decision to write off £872,173 of which there is no reasonable prospect of recovery.”
“Needless to say, like many of my fellow councillors and residents, I am deeply angered by what happened in the past.”
“We have already put in place procedures to ensure this cannot happen again at Castle Point Borough Council.”
Cllr Warren Gibson, Deputy Leader of Castle Point Borough Council, said “As Councillors our primary concern is to protect the Council and its finances, and its ability to remain in control of its future. This we believe we have done. We have also done what we believe is right, both terms of law and in the eyes of our residents.
“Taking legal action is a serious next step and until that is resolved, it would not be right to comment further.”
The link to the recording of the Full Council meeting can be found on YouTube.