DID the Town Clerk jump or was he pushed? Will we ever know? I fear not. Do we have the right to know, considering the large amount of public money involved, of course we do.

I understand the agreement was reached between three councillors, a representative of the Town Clerk and a representative of the North West Employers - hardly a representative forum!

I am delighted to read our MP, Geraldine Smith, is extremely concerned that tax payers' money has been used for another early retirement of yet another chief executive so soon after an undisclosed pay off to the previous holder of the post. This may well become a bi-annual event.

I do hope, when our MP receives the full explanation she is asking for from the Council Leader, she will pass the information to us all. It is no more than we deserve.

However, one must recall the last time Cllr Smith (as she was then) crossed swords with the Council Leader, over the Altham Meadows project. She was removed from her position as chair person on committees and banished to the floor of the chamber.

I do hope the Labour Group council whip does not extend to Westminster and that our MP gets some clear answer to this shambles.

Cllr Paul Woodruff,

Independent,

Halton.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.