LETTER TO THE EDITOR

10.06.20am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 22nd Mar 2007

Dear Sirs

Payment of £229,999 per year ... the going rate for "the best man for the job"

Kent County Council has defended its payment of £229,999 per year to its Chief Executive by saying that this is the going rate for "the best man for the job". It is difficult to see how this view can be justified by the facts:

The vacant post was never advertised externally.

Mr Gilroy was never asked to interview in competition with any other applicants.

So KCC Conservative Councillors never gave themselves the opportunity either to test Mr Gilroy's talents with those of other applicants, or to explore the possibility that any equally talented person might have been prepared to do the job for less.

At least Mr Blair had to win an election first......

Yours sincerely

Trudy Dean

Leader KCC Liberal Democrat Group