A COUNCIL has defended its appointment of a shared chief executive amid claims that the chosen candidate does not represent value for money.

Opposition leaders in Richmondshire District Council will report the authority's decision to share a chief executive with Hambleton District Council to the district auditor's office, after claiming that the choice will cost taxpayers £30,000 more a year than an unnamed alternative candidate.

But the Conservative leader of Richmondshire District Council Melva Steckles said the opposition had got their figures wrong, and insisted Hambleton's offer represented the best value offer on the table.

The arrangement will see the chief executive of Hambleton District Council, Peter Simpson, take up the shared position for six months until a permanent solution is found.

Coun Steckles said: "The opposition are comparing the two candidates without comparing it to what we were paying our previous two chief executives and what is in the budget.

"Why should we just go for the cheapest option - is that right for Richmondshire? What we do want is the serious expertise of another local council that knows Richmondshire well."

Councillor Stuart Parsons, of the Liberal Democrat group, said his group, along with Richmondshire Association of Independent Councillors and the Independents of North Yorkshire, were concerned about the decision and would be reporting the matter early next year.

He said: "The cost of the appointed chief executive is £30,000 a year more than another candidate that they all said was very good. Given the current budgetary problems, we shouldn't be spending any more money than we need to."

Coun Steckles said she would not be concerned if the matter is reported. She added: "I'm quite happy for it to go to the district auditor if that is what the opposition choose, but I think it's a great shame. We should be getting together and uniting behind the new chief executive."

She said that, contrary to the oppositions claims, the decision would have no impact on next year's council tax rates, nor would there be any job losses as a consequence of the reported deficit.

She did hint, however, that tax rates may rise as a result of central Government's comprehensive spending review, which earlier this month slashed its contribution to Richmondshire from seven per cent to 2.9 per cent.