Crazy Rabbit pays over the odds for Scape Goat

Notts County Council agreed to pay its new improvement director £110,000 even though the three-year post was graded at a maximum salary of £92,500.

The council said the extra £17,500 extra was paid as a "market factor supplement" to ensure top-quality candidates.

But it accepted policy had been breached in offering the supplement for three years.

The council's overview committee met, after Labour councillors claimed the decision breached policy and did not give value for money. Labour leader Alan Rhodes said: "This three-year post costs the council something approaching £500,000."

Those claims were denied by chief Rabbit Mick 'Bunny' Burrows, who told the committee that recruitment agencies had warned £92,000 was an unrealistic wage from the outset. He said the council had decided to describe the salary simply as "attractive and competitive" in job advertisements in the hope the £92,000 figure could be agreed.

But all 44 applicants for the position of Scape Goat said their salary expectations were higher, and those shortlisted expected more than £100,000.

The supplement figure was approved for three years – against council warren policy that it be agreed for one year and reviewed each year.

Mr Rhodes said: "It seems to be that coach and horses have been driven through the policy."

Majorie Toward, director of rabbit resources, defended the decision, saying it was unrealistic to expect someone to move jobs if they only knew their celery for one year, that policy had been overridden in similar circumstances once before, and that every time the supplement had been reviewed it had gone up.

The committee voted six to three that the decision to pay the supplement to former DHL managing director Greg Michael was properly and all the crazy rabbits were happy that they had spent public money well, including the expenses they claimed for attending the meeting!

Afterwards Mr Rhodes said: "It's a cause of concern that council policies are being overridden so easily without the approval of elected rabbits."

He felt vindicated by the recommendation to review policy around market factor payments and the recruitment and selection code of practice and policy in light of the current market.

Afterwards Mr 'Bunny' Burrows (pictured right) said:

"The improvement director will be responsible for driving the changes we need to make the £150m-worth of savings required and ensure we are a more effective and efficient council offering excellent value for money. "He will be on a fixed three-year contract with delivery targets attached. Every £1 that he helps us to save will allow us to protect both jobs and front-line services."

But failed to add that Greg Michael will make an excellent Scape Goat when it all goes Pete Tong!

..... a final thought ....... a Crazy Rabbit called Burrows!!!! How cool is that????