THE former chief executive of Bournemouth council has died, just 12 months after leaving his post in controversial circumstances.

Tony Williams passed away aged 56 on Sunday in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, where he had moved after his departure from the town hall.

He had been suffering from liver cancer, which was only diagnosed last month.

Bournemouth East MP Tobias Ellwood described Mr Williams as “one of the good guys”.

“I was really surprised over the manner of his departure and the fact that he disappeared from the radar,” he said.

“His enthusiasm, energy and professionalism were a testament to his public service and his wish to make Bournemouth a better place.”

His death throws some question marks at the criminal investigation into council leader John Beesley, which was triggered by Mr Williams’ departure.

Allegedly Mr Williams left the council almost overnight after a disagreement with Cllr Beesley, and with a £390,000 pay-off sanctioned by the leader.

The redundancy sum sent shockwaves through the town hall, although the authority said it was a statutory amount.

Speaking in Parliament last year, Christchurch MP Sir Christopher Chope claimed Mr Williams may have been forced out because he planned to investigate the leader’s business interests.

Cllr Beesley said the comments were “totally unfounded and an abuse of privilege”, and they caused uproar at a full council meeting a few days later.

The police investigation is ongoing. Mr Williams, who had expressed concern to friends over the leader’s business interests, was extensively interviewed by Dorset Police detectives at his home in Yorkshire last summer.

Born in South Wales, Mr Williams had worked for West Yorkshire, Kirklees, Barnsley, Blackpool and East Lindsey councils, and as a management consultant for Coopers & Lybrand. He joined Bournemouth in 2007 as director for environment and economy and was lead officer on Boscombe’s surf reef plan. He became chief executive in 2012.

Last August, he led the public launch of plans to scrap Dorset’s existing nine councils and replace them with two.

In a statement, Bournemouth council paid tribute to its former chief.

"We were very sad to learn that Tony Williams passed away at the weekend," a spokesman said.

"Of course our thoughts are with his family, and in particular his wife Lynne and son Adam, at this very difficult time."

The borough praised the "notable developments" of Mr Williams' ten years at the council

"Theses included the Air Festival being launched and subsequently going from strength to strength, major improvements at Boscombe Seafront, the Town Centre Vision being agreed and delivery partnership the Bournemouth Development Company established – creating more homes and public realm improvements in the town centre."

Councillor Robert Lawton, cabinet member for housing, said: "Tony was a decent and honourable man, and he did an awful lot for the town in his 10 years at the council. He will be sadly missed."