THE lead of the Liberal Democrat group on Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) has withdrawn from the authority’s Remuneration Committee.
The committee has been set up to interview a single candidate for the proposed post of joint CEO of OCC and Cherwell District Council (CDC) in advance of any decision to go ahead with a merger.
Richard Webber has said no formal decision has been taken and any process should be done from a list of candidates with full transparency.
Cllr Webber said: “It should be transparent, open and not carried out in the present unseemly rush. Appointing a CEO of two Councils – one County and one District - is a unique proposal, potentially carrying a high level of remuneration.
“It is likely to attract a great deal of interest from a number of highly qualified candidates, and it is vital that Oxfordshire residents should be able to have full confidence in the process.”
A merger is being put forward after Cherwell’s partnership with Northamptonshire collapsed.
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