Revealed: Councils paid £220million in 'golden goodbyes' to thousands of departing staff before laws to curb hefty payoffs took effect

Thirty council officials received 'golden goodbyes' of more than £250,000 each in a 'stampede' before laws to curb hefty payoffs took effect.

Councils in England spent more than £220 million on thousands of departing staff, with one official in Dorset picking up almost £1 million.

The sums are revealed as new regulations that come into force on Wednesday cap exit payments in the public sector at £95,000.

A Mail on Sunday analysis of such payments made by councils in the year to March 31 has found:

One of the best-paid council bosses last year was Martin Yardley, former deputy chief executive at Coventry City Council, who was paid £573,660, including an exit package when he left in March

MP Andrew Bridgen said: 'There has clearly been a stampede for these payouts before the new cap comes in. Some of these payments look more like lottery wins than compensation for losing a job.'

Former chancellor George Osborne pledged in May 2015 to end six-figure payoffs in the public sector. The Government said the move would save millions of pounds for the taxpayer, but it has taken more than five years for the policy to be implemented.

Dorset Council paid the biggest amount in exit payments after a merger of six councils into one.

Its latest accounts reveal that 40 staff received sums above £100,000, including six officers who got more than £320,000.

The Mail on Sunday understands that Mike Harries, former chief executive of Dorset County Council, benefited from one of the biggest packages because of the merger.

Mr Harries, who subsequently walked into another local government job, declined to comment on whether he had received the package of almost £1 million.

Peter Wharf, deputy leader of Dorset Council, said it was 'bonkers' that council bosses who were given large payoffs could go straight into similar jobs. 'There were a number of eye-watering amounts over which we had absolutely no control,' he added. 

'The requirement to pay these severance packages was a legal obligation.'

One of the best-paid council bosses last year was Martin Yardley, former deputy chief executive at Coventry City Council, who was paid £573,660, including an exit package when he left in March.

Helen Fisher , former interim director of housing and regeneration at Haringey Council, was paid £425,513 in 2019/20, including a payoff of £373,803. She moved to a similar role at Watford Council, where she earned another £98,700 in the 2019/20 financial year. Mary Weastell , former chief executive of York City Council, was given an exit package on retirement worth £377,000, including £19,323 of holiday pay

He subsequently took up a new part-time role as a development director at Warwick University.

Helen Fisher, former interim director of housing and regeneration at Haringey Council, was paid £425,513 in 2019/20, including a payoff of £373,803.

She moved to a similar role at Watford Council, where she earned another £98,700 in the 2019/20 financial year.

Mary Weastell, former chief executive of York City Council, was given an exit package on retirement worth £377,000, including £19,323 of holiday pay.

A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesman said: 'Councils are responsible for the management and organisation of their workforce but we expect them to always ensure taxpayers get value for money.'