KENT NEWS: County council leader Paul Carter has today apologised to staff upset that senior officers pocketed £53,000 in bonuses last year.
The cash was paid despite a promise made by former chief executive Peter Gilroy in January, 2009, that members of the chief officers group would not accept any bonuses for 2009-10 in recognition of the current financial situation.
His statement followed an announcement in last year’s budget that staff would only receive a one per cent pay rise.
However, Cllr Carter pointed out at Thursday’s full council meeting that the money relates to performance in 2008-09.
“I do admit the Peter Gilroy statement could have been better worded,” he said.
“There was certainly no intention to mislead staff but because it was not explicit it was open to misinterpretation.”
Cllr Carter went on to explain that bonuses for chief officers can only be paid in the financial year that follows that in which they are awarded.
Therefore there will be none paid for 2010-11, nor for 2011-12.
He added: “I hope this finally ends the matter and I apologise to staff who may have felt misled.”
Cllr Carter was responding to a question tabled by the Liberal Democrats’ finance spokesman Cllr Tim Prater.
POSTED: 22/07/2010 13:00:00
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