THE new chief executive at Derbyshire County Council was confirmed last night – with Ian Stephenson handed a salary that is £14,000 less than his predecessor.
Mr Stephenson will be paid £138,000 – making him one of the lowest-paid county council chief executives in the country.
He replaces Nick Hodgson – who left County Hall within a month of Labour's election win over the Tories in May.
At the time, Mr Stephenson was appointed acting chief executive while the search for a permanent replacement was carried out.
The post was advertised nationally and interviews took place at County Hall earlier this week.
But, last night, leader Anne Western confirmed it had been decided that the council already had the right man for the job.
She said: "I am delighted Mr Stephenson has been successful in securing this important job. We will be putting his considerable experience of working for Derbyshire and other councils to good use."
The reasons for Mr Hodgson's departure have not been explained by the council, nor have details of his payout.
Mrs Western said she could not release the information herself because the council and Mr Hodgson had signed a confidentiality agreement.
However, Mrs Western said she wanted the public to know that she "recognised" Mr Hodgson's contribution throughout his 38 years at County Hall, adding the council was "grateful for his long and loyal service, which had served local people well".
She added: "But this is a new council and local people overwhelmingly voted for a new approach and new ideas. That's what we promised and that's what we will focus on delivering.
"These are very difficult times – made more so by the Government's further cuts to council spending. We're very aware of the need to save money and to do our very best to make sure we deliver on our promises to local people.
"The changes we have made so far will save money and we believe will result in better services.
"Mr Stephenson will help us do that by ensuring the council is more efficient and effective and by delivering much-needed changes to put people at the heart of what the council is here for – to serve them."
Mr Stephenson joined the county council in 2007 as strategic director of environmental services.
Previously, he held senior management roles at Wakefield and Doncaster councils.
