A SENIOR county council officer has been dismissed from his high-ranking job, it has been revealed.

Jim Robertson, director of policy for KCC, left the authority abruptly three weeks ago after complaints of unacceptable behaviour towards colleagues.

Mr Robertson was the chief architect of a pioneering partnership with the Government that netted Kent County Council some £20million this year for achieving a set of service targets.

He was recently involved in drawing up a second similar initiative between KCC and the Government.

He was initially suspended while an inquiry took place and then dismissed after an internal disciplinary hearing.

County councillors on KCC's Personnel Committee were told of Mr Robertson's dismissal in a private in September.

KCC said it would not comment on the matter, saying it was an internal personnel issue.

Staff have been told only that Mr Roberston has left the county council and no reasons have been given for his departure.

Internal emails to Mr Robertson received an automatic response, saying he was no longer employed by the authority.

Mr Robertson, who lives in Tonbridge, said he would be appealing against the dismissal.

“Gross procedural errors have been committed which I will be contesting in the most vigorous possible form,” he said. He declined to comment further.

Councillors will hear the appeal, which is scheduled to take place in late October.