BOURNEMOUTH council has approved what has been described as an "eye-wateringly excessive" payment to its outgoing senior officer.

At an extraordinary full council meeting on Friday evening, members were asked to approve the redundancy of chief executive Tony Williams, at a cost of £394,000, and the transfer of his responsibilities to his deputy Jane Portman as an interim measure.

Cllr Anne Filer, who proposed the motion, said the move was nothing to do with the controversial local government reorganisation proposals, and that it was "normal" for senior executive to leave their post without serving notice.

"This is to do with balancing the bills for this council. That is why we are embracing a programme of sharing so many services with Poole," she said.

"It just happens that in the past month or so people have retired."

Backing the motion, Cllr Beverley Dunlop said the redundancy was an opportunity to reduce the council's cost to the taxpayer.

"I am a candid critic of public sector benefits paid for by the taxes of people who do not enjoy these sorts of benefits themselves," she said.

"The big jobs with big money are of course where big savings can be made.

"There will be more senior roles lost and those who step into the light and recognise their role is fast becoming surplus deserve some credit as it enables us to bring forward savings."

The council expects to recoup the costs of the management restructuring within two years.

Cllrs Stephen Bartlett and UKIP's Laurence Fear both queried why the decision had not passed through the council's scrutiny process, nor been considered by cabinet.

"It would be reasonable before this very important decision is made, it seems to be being made in haste," said Cllr Bartlett.

Independent Cllr Anne Rey had earlier called for the meeting to 'go into committee', allowing members to speak more than once, but this was voted down.

She said she had received letters from residents asking why Mr Williams would not serve his notice period.

The council's monitoring officer Tanya Coulter responded that this was common in senior positions as it would free up a successor to "take things forward".

Mr Williams' payment was criticised earlier this week by Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns, who described it as "eye-wateringly excessive". Several councillors said the figure was large but noted that it was legally justified.

Cllr David Smith said "I think all of us are feeling we are custodians of the public purse and find it not very pleasant to have to pay out this sort of money in these circumstances."

However he said the council would "recoup the money through savings".

Cllr Smith also paid tribute to Mr Williams, saying that in his 10 years of service "I found him to be a very helpful, honourable man".

Several members also criticised Christchurch MP Christopher Chope, who last week suggested in Parliament that a row between Mr Williams and council leader John Beesley may have caused his departure.

This was denied by Cllr Beesley, Mr Williams and the council.

Dubbing Mr Chope 'Mr Filibuster' in reference to his reputation for talking out private members bills in the Commons, Cllr Dunlop said the MP had "improperly used Parliamentary privilege to blatantly lie, slander the leader of this council" at the behest of Christchurch councillors, to whom, she said, "a story spun to suggest some conflict surrounding the departure of our chief executive must have seemed like an early Christmas present".

She said Christchurch councillors were "not on board" with making savings, were "happy in their little club" and "throwing their toys out of the pram" about LGR plans.

Cllr Bob Chapman defended his "good friend" of 40 years, Cllr Beesley, against "a character assassination spearheaded by the local press".

However Green Party Cllr Simon Bull said the matter risked "bringing the council intro disrepute" and called for "a thorough investigation into these concerns so they can be laid to rest".

At the vote, 47 were in favour, two against and five abstained.