by political editor Paul Francis

A £420,000 payoff to Kent County Council's former managing director Katherine Kerswell has sparked a fresh political row.

Opposition Liberal Democrats have questioned why Ms Kerswell, who left her job last year after only 18 months, received more than the statutory redundancy she would have been entitled to.

The issue was raised by Maidstone county councillor Malcolm Robertson at a full council meeting.

He questioned how the £420,000 compensation package Mrs Kerswell had come about when KCC had a year earlier instigated an urgent review into severance payments to senior officers.

That review was carried out by Mrs Kerswell herself in June 2010.

Cllr Robertson asked how her compensation "accords with the numerous steps taken [by KCC] as a result of procedures... to minimise the risk of such large payments being made in the future?"

In his reply, KCC leader Cllr Paul Carter said steps had been taken to tackle the issue and there was now a "strengthened approval process".

"The recruitment process is now far more robust as a result of the review and includes stakeholder panels and full assessment centres facilitated by an external organisation," he said.

But when pressed to explain why the former managing director received more than her stautory redundancy, he refused to answer, claiming that it was a confidential agreement and could not be discussed in public.

The revelation last month that Mrs Kerswell had received £589,165 in pay and perks - including the £420,000 compensation deal - sparked a public outcry and was condemned by local government minister Grant Shapps as unacceptable and disturbing.