A controversial proposal to pay senior council officers 'golden handcuff' bonuses to prevent them leaving ahead of a major local government shake-up remains in limbo, the authority has confirmed.
Plan to Retain Chiefs Amid Reorganisation
The scheme, proposed by Worcestershire County Council, was designed to stop chief officers departing before their jobs are abolished. The council is set to be replaced by a new unitary authority in 2028 as part of a wider local government reorganisation.
There were fears that experienced senior staff might seek new roles elsewhere, leaving the council understaffed and struggling to recruit for positions with an uncertain future. The retention payments would have offered annual bonuses of up to 10% of salary to officers who met specific criteria.
Backlash and Political Fallout
The plan, made public in November, sparked immediate criticism. Staff who had faced 'fire and rehire' tactics from the council a year earlier said they were horrified. Labour councillor Richard Udall labelled the idea "divisive and hurtful."
The political fallout was significant. Former deputy leader David Taylor was removed from the council's Appointments panel and axed from the cabinet in December after he refused to support the scheme. He stated his concerns about the Reform-led administration "came to a head" over the issue.
The Appointments panel delayed a decision in early December, with monitoring officer Hazel Best stating it was "adjourned pending further cross-party discussions."
Has the Proposal Been Quietly Dropped?
With the Appointments panel due to meet again next week—but with retention payments notably absent from the agenda—a senior councillor believes the idea may have been quietly abandoned.
A council spokesperson clarified: "The Appointments etc panel next week is for recruitment to the strategic director for economy and infrastructure only. No further decision has been made outside of the panel in relation to retention payments."
Councillor Udall, a vocal critic, suggested common sense had prevailed. "The proposal to pay chief officers an extra £10,000 per year, on top of their already high salaries, was clearly wrong," he said. "It looks as if the Reform-led council could not get a majority for the proposal and have backed down."
He added that the focus should now be on "providing value for money public services instead of paying the already-well-paid even more money to do their jobs."
