Councillors dine out on chief exec hunt

The decision on who will be Tunbridge Wells Borough Council's next chief executive will be made over a lavish meal – paid for by the taxpayer.

The true price of picking Sheila Wheeler's successor will also include a three-hour slap-up meal for each of the 48 councillors at posh function venue High Rocks.

The entire council has been invited by leader Roy Bullock to a meal at the high-end venue on December 14 so they can meet the short-listed candidates for the £109,000 position.

And with sample menus including paupiettes of smoked salmon and a medallion of fillet steak costing up to £29.75 per person, it could provide the council with the perfect alternative to an official Christmas party they have vowed not to hold.

But we spoke to Cllr Sean Holden, who represents Cranbrook, who said he was "disgusted" with the idea and vowed not to attend.

He said: "It is wholly inappropriate, at this time more than ever, that taxpayers' money should be spent on tipping food and drink into councillors and officials.

"We've had six months of MPs being lambasted for this kind of excess – or has that not been noticed?

"If we are going to meet the candidates there is no reason it can't be a businesslike encounter over a cup of tea in the council chamber. Why should our people be footing our dinner bills?"

The evening meal is due to last for around three hours.

The size of the next chief executive's salary has provoked anger from The Taxpayers' Alliance who say it is an "insult to hard-pressed taxpayers" who suffered a 4.9 per cent hike in council tax this year.

The post seeks applicants with "outrageous ambition" to join the "far-sighted and creative" borough council.

And the advert said the successful candidate must be "passionate about local government, with the vision and energy to make great things happen, despite the difficult economic situation we now face."

Taxpayers' Alliance chief executive Matthew Elliott told the Courier: "To accompany their 'outrageous ambition', their new chief executive will pocket an outrageous amount of taxpayers' money."

In comparison the average Tunbridge Wells resident earns £36,000. Even shadow chancellor George Osborne earns less than the council chief, at £64,766.

Cllr Holden also criticised the process for choosing the replacement. He said: "This rushed timetable makes it impossible for the council to make an informed decision to approve a chosen candidate. "The final interviews are on December 15 and the council is asked to approve the person the next day. We need to have a proper opportunity to consider the person, the contract, and the salary."

"Mrs Wheeler's not leaving until February so we should also have a discussion about whether or not we could save a large salary by not having a chief executive for a period."

Council leader Roy Bullock said: "So that all the councillors have an opportunity to meet with, and ask questions of, the final short list of candidates and then give an indication of their preferences or for that matter, reservations on the candidates, all councillors have been invited to a dinner at the High Rocks when candidates will spend approximately twenty minutes at each table, meeting the councillors.

"This technique was used at the time the present chief executive was appointed, and I am sure on both occasions backbench councillors who have been involved in and, contributed to, this very important appointment will appreciate that involvement.

"The cost, if all 48 councillors attend, will be less than £1,000."