A wall of silence has risen around whether a Shrewsbury council boss will be paid off – following last week’s Chronicle exclusive.
The matter was discussed behind closed doors at Monday’s full meeting of Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council – but only after Labour councillors staged a shock walk-out.
Their leader Danny Moore said they could not support proposals for chief executive Robin Hooper to leave after Christmas, as it would be ‘detrimental to the authority’.
Councillor Moore said the Labour group wanted Mr Hooper to remain in position until the creation of a new unitary authority for Shropshire, expected in April 2009, and during the judicial review process, which resumes in January.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Moore added: “We don’t accept any arguments that there are savings to be made from changes.”
Details of the package to be offered to Mr Hooper were outlined in a confidential report by council leader Peter Nutting, which was revealed to the Chronicle last week.
The report claimed that the deal would save the taxpayer £92,000 and stated that Mr Moore would take part in any negotiations with Mr Hooper as one of the three political party leaders.
Councillor Judith Williams seconded the proposals, which were discussed behind closed doors after the Labour councillors walked out.
The council has since refused to comment on whether any decision was made.
Earlier in the meeting, Mr Hooper told members that the ‘net was closing down’ on the person who had leaked the report.
He said the council was taking the matter extremely seriously and was investigating a possible breach of the authority’s standing orders and also the Data Protection Act.
Chronicle editor John Butterworth said he had been given a 5pm deadline on Monday (December 3) by the chief executive to name the source or sources for last week’s story.
“During my 11 years as editor here I have been asked by the council on numerous occasions to reveal who gave us our exclusive stories.
“I have always refused – and this occasion is no different to any of the other times,” he said.