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Ex-council boss in Staffordshire to receive £500k payout

A former council finance boss made redundant to save money is to receive up to £537,009.68 in taxpayers’ cash, it has been revealed.

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Andrew Burns, a former finance director at Staffordshire County Council

Andrew Burns oversaw a budget of £1.2 billion for Staffordshire County Council as the director of finance and resources.

But his £148,000-a-year post was axed in November as part of a re-shuffle designed to save around £170,000-a-year.

Council documents have shown Mr Burns is set to receive a £349,783.90 pension payment to be paid over five years, a £114,979.40 ‘discretionary compensation lump sum payment’, and a £72,196.38 redundancy payment – as well as a £50 refund on his lease hire vehicle.

The pension payment could be reduced to £301,513.74 if paid in one lump sum.

The Taxpayers Alliance has condemned the payout. Chief executive John O'Connell said many town hall bosses were still receiving 'staggering payouts' despite a £95,000 cap passed by the last government.

Mr Burns was axed after the council last year decided to get rid of his role as well as that of the £133,235-a-year director of strategy, governance and change. It saw the number of senior directors cut from five to four.

A new £147,802-a-year director of corporate services role was created and that has been taken on by John Tradewell.

County council cabinet member Philip White said: "The change to the senior leadership team will save in the region of £175,000-a-year in salary, employer costs and pension contributions. Mr Burns received a total statutory and contractual redundancy payment of £187,175. The county council will also make a statutory contribution of £349,783 to Mr Burns’ pension.”