by political editor Paul Francis

The former head of communications at Kent County Council has settled an unfair dismissal case with the authority.

Jane Clarke had been taking the authority to an employment tribunal. The case was to have been heard later this month.

But the county council said the two sides had now reached a settlement and the case would not be going ahead.

Ms Clarke, pictured left, left the council as part of a re-organisation of the authority’s senior directors last year.

She worked for the council between 2008 and 2011, joining the authority from a similar role at Sport England.

In a statement, Kent County Council said: "The parties reached an agreement following which the claim was withdrawn."

Ms Clarke, who earned £86,600 in 2010-11 according to the authority’s accounts, declined to comment.

The terms of the settlement have not been disclosed.

KCC has since appointed Matt Burrows as its head of communications on a salary of £87,700. He joined KCC last year from Croydon council.