(l-r) Cllr Paul Carter (Con), fire chief Charlie Hendry and chief constable Michael Fuller have defended Peter Gilroy, pictured below.

Kent's top policeman and head of the county's fire service have leapt to the defence of KCC boss Peter Gilroy after it was revealed he is to get a £200,000 golden handshake.

The payment is on top of his annual earnings of £244,000 - £55,000 more than the Prime Minister.

But in a remarkable and unprecedented show of solidarity, Kent's two other top public servants Chief Constable Mike Fuller and Chief Fire Officer Charlie Hendry have issued statements backing County Hall's chief executive.

And KCC leader Cllr Paul Carter (Con) today revealed that the payment was necessary to avoid Mr Gilroy being "significantly disadvantaged" by changes in pension rules.

Mr Fuller, who is also due to leave Kent to become the Crown Prosecution Service Chief Inspector, said: "Peter has made a significant contribution to crime reduction in Kent. He has chaired the Kent Safer and Stronger Communities group with huge energy and commitment and, through difficult challenges in reducing violent crime, Peter has been unfailingly supportive of me and Kent Police. We have built a very strong relationship between our two organisations which has resulted in great benefit to the citizens of Kent"

Mr Hendry said:"The fire and rescue service in Kent has a great record of working with other organisations to get better results, particularly with young people and vulnerable older people. Peter Gilroy and KCC have been really helpful and supportive and our work together goes from strength to strength.”

Their comments were contained within a statement released by KCC leader Cllr Paul Carter defending the decision to make the payment to Mr Gilroy when he stands down in May.

Cllr Carter said: "In order to secure Peter’s extended service, in November 2006 the county council's all-party personnel committee, including Labour, Lib Dem and Conservative members, unanimously agreed a variation in Mr Gilroy's contract brought about by changes in pension legislation.

"The committee agreed that without such a variation, he would have been significantly disadvantaged by extending his contract with the authority.

“Peter Gilroy is an outstanding public servant who has always been motivated by the desire to make life better for Kent residents.

“He has earned a national reputation for innovation in public service and he leads the country in developing personalisation in adult social care, giving back to some of society's most under-represented individuals as much control over their lives as is possible.

“He initiated Kent's Telehealth pilot which allows monitoring of health in the home and he introduced the Kent Card so that people supported by adult social services have greater freedom of choice over the services they use. He developed the concept of Gateways, which deliver better access to a wide range of public services under a single roof.

"Peter's inspirational leadership has delivered exceptional results for Kent County Council and for Kent residents working closely with both the late Lord Sandy Bruce-Lockhart and myself since March 2005. In December 2009 Kent County Council was justifiably confirmed by the Audit Commission as the best performing county council in the country."