New Oxford City Council chief executive Caroline Bull will start receiving her £105,000-a-year salary a month before she takes up her duties.

The revelation produced strong objections from Liberal Democrat group leader John Goddard at the council's appointments committee meeting, which was expected to be nothing more than a rubber-stamping formality.

After being told that the plan was for Ms Bull to take up her post on June 1 but not to begin work until a month later, Mr Goddard protested: "This is bizarre. It's absolutely unnecessary and I want my objection minuted."

Human resources business manager Anne-Marie Scott told the meeting that an arrangement had been negotiated between Ms Bull and council leader Alex Hollingsworth for the new chief executive to use the first month to "get to know Oxford".

During that period, Ms Bull will acquaint herself with the city and council -- at a cost of almost £9,000 to taxpayers.

During Ms Bull's first month on the payroll, the head of housing, Neil Gibson, will continue as acting chief executive -- on chief executive's pay, though at a lower rate than his new boss.

It was also revealed that Ms Bull was being paid outside the existing pay structure and a fresh one would have to be drawn up after her arrival.

Her predecessor, Marion Headicar, who was head-hunted by Portsmouth City Council, earned £90,000 a year.

Ms Bull's £105,000 deal will now become the new minimum salary for Oxford City Council's chief executive and annual increments will increase that figure.

Councillors Susanna Pressel (Labour, Jericho and Osney), Stan Taylor (Labour, Cowley Marsh) and Peter Johnson (Labour, Churchill) -- agreed the starting arrangements were unusual but accepted them "with reservations".

Mr Hollingsworth (Labour, Barton and Sandhills) accused Mr Goddard of "arrogance" for thinking he knew better than "two highly-paid and skilled professionals".