SOMERSET County Council has defended its position in spending nearly £1,000 a day on a temporary member of staff. 

The position of finance director has recently been filled on a temporary basis by the council after the resignation of Kevin Nacey, who held the position for more than 30 years.

It is legally required for the council to have a finance director. An interim finance director will take up the role from the end of July while the council seeks a permanent replacement.

According to the 2017 senior leadership salaries released by the council, Mr Nacey was earning £103,020 a year, with £13,907 in pension contributions. 

The interim director will be paid £900 a day, with £270 paid to the agency who is suppling his service. 

The council says the £900 will include any expenses incurred by the interim director and includes VAT, which the authority doesn't pay.


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A spokesman for Somerset County Council said the role is a 'demanding' one which deals with expenditures in excess of £1billion. 

He added: “We have appointed an experienced interim finance director on a six-month basis and a recruitment process to fill the role permanently is underway.

“It’s demanding and responsible position in an organisation with expenditure in excess of £1bn.

"The role meets a legal requirement and few people have the skills and experience to do the job, so recruiting a permanent replacement takes time.

"That’s why an interim is needed and we, like all local authorities, have to pay the rate the market dictates.”