Confronted with evidence of their peculation, you would think that local authority chief executives would be hanging their heads in shame. That, though, would be to misunderstand the beast. Lining your pockets with public funds means never having to say you're sorry. Thus, we get "much anger amongst many in local government" at the inclusion of "all payments to chief executives covering items such as expenses, pension payments and returning officer fees".

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Richard, I hope there are people in his catchment area who know who he is, where he is, who read blogs such as this, and who know what to do about such public theft.

I am sure people will want to compliment him for being such a clever bunny.

"Bumper payoffs like this are completely unacceptable and show a breathtaking lack of respect for public money."

Can't imagine where that lack of respect originated... Bob.

I'm OK with it all so long as it doesn't impact the street lighting budget

Once upon a time, things were fairly simple. When it was a County Borough, with much the same responsibilities as today, our city had a TOWN CLERK. This gentleman was a properly qualified lawyer on a suitable but not stratospheric salary.
There wasn't any need for a CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND A DIRECTOR OF LEGAL SERVICES plus other highly promoted posts - all with their attendant staffs. There was an architect and a treasurer but no plethora of "partnerships" with highly paid staff - "MARKETING DERBY","CONNECTING DERBY" , "DERBY CITYSCAPE" nor for a special "CITY CENTRE MANAGER". There was a Markets Officer and a Parks Superintendent (The parks were excellent and the municipal gardens won prizes).

Where did these people all come from? How did they all breed - as real services become worse and worse?

THEY are offgepissed?

I notice you use the word 'darlink' ...ZsaZsa Gabor is reputed to have advised a 'betrayed' friend: "Don't take umbrage, darlink, take everythink."
.....but our merry councillors have already done that, or....?

Hello all,

More, in the "Shropshire Star" tonight - Advantage West Midlands, the quango set up to hand some of our money back to us in this area, is to close - or, as one might cynically think, be reborn in some other form. Various officials are getting six-figure payouts...

Regards Ant

You have to go back to the Bains Report of 1972 ... "The New Local Authorities - management and structure". That is when the rot started.