by Paul Francis

pfrancis@thekmgroup.co.uk

Kent County Council's former boss Katherine Kerswell received a £420,000 pay-off after unexpectedly quitting the job after just 16 months in post, it has emerged.

Mrs Kerswell, who left her role as managing director after completing less than half of a four-year contract, departed in controversial circumstances last December.

The county council's Conservative administration insisted at the time her departure was connected to a re-organisation of the authority that involved doing away with a chief executive to save money.

However, there was speculation that she had fallen out with the Conservative led authority.

Details of the pay-off have been revealed in the county council's statement of accounts for 2011-2012.

They show that she was paid £420,000 in redundancy as well as £139,806 in salary for the year - bringing her overall remuneration for the year to a staggering £589,165. The sum is thought to be one of the highest ever remuneration packages for a senior council manager.

Mrs Kerswell, who was paid just under £200,000 a year, joined KCC in March 2010 from Northamptonshire county council, following the departure of former chief executive Peter Gilroy.

She oversaw a major shake-up of the way the county council was run under what was known as the "Change To Keep Succeeding" programme. That involved a major cull of senior directors that some opposed.

But under new transparency rules on top executive pay, the details have now had to be reported.
The county council has previously refused to disclose details of the pay-off, saying it was subject to a confidential agreement.

In a statement, council leader Paul Carter said: "Removing chief executive posts is what more and more councils should be doing. Employment law and contractual obligations mean we have to pay significant redundancy costs but it will save a fortune in the long run. Our council is now being guided by officers who have worked their way up and know what life is like from a Kent taxpayers' perspective."

He added: "The highest paid staff in local government are valuable, experienced people but when savings need to be made I think taxpayers would rather see cuts to management than to frontline staff. Kent is putting its faith more and more in the talented people who actually deliver good, frontline services and streamlining management tiers."

He added that KCC was now spending £40m less on pay for staff and that the re-structuring of senior directors had saved £1m alone.