Northumberland County Council agrees redundancy package for highly paid officer

Northumberland County Council’s interim executive director of communities and business development, Maureen Taylor, will leave the authority at the end of March after her redundancy was accepted by the staff and appointments committee on Monday.

Mrs Taylor joined the council in August 2019 and was made interim executive director of communities and business development in February last year.

A voluntary redundancy scheme was launched by the council in September. A report presented to councillors stated that Mrs Taylor’s role does not exist within the council’s new executive structure and therefore recommended the request be accepted.

Mrs Taylor, who is on an annual salary of £150,820, will receive a redundancy payment of £13,015.99 as well as the early release of her pension, with the council paying the strain cost of £56,740. The council also agreed to pay an early termination fee for Mrs Taylor’s lease car of £559,92, bringing the total cost to £70,045.91.

Because this falls under £100,000, it could be approved by the staff and appointments committee rather than full council. Speaking at Monday’s meeting, interim chief executive Rick O’Farrell said: “Maureen has been a valued member of the team.

“We’re in a position to recommend this because in the new structure her position will, in effect, disappear. March 31 will be her leaving date.”

Labour leader Scott Dickinson sought assurances that Mrs Taylor’s important duties would be picked up by other officers.

He said: “If Maureen leaves on March 31, some of the stuff Maureen looks after is vital, including support for the most vulnerable. Will her replacement be in post by then?”

Mr O’Farrell confirmed that a handover was already in process and that work would be continued.