QUESTIONS continue to be raised about the payout being given to Mary Weastell, and rightly so. Let’s review the facts:

1. Mary Weastell went on sick leave almost immediately after the Liberal Democrats took control of the council.

2. The council leader had only recently been under investigation himself by the senior officers.

3. The Press has reported a £400,000 payout has been agreed and suggested there was the threat of an employment tribunal from the now former chief executive. Why would a tribunal be needed for an early retirement?

4. The early retirement was agreed at a ‘public’ council meeting from which the press and public were excluded on the grounds of confidentiality but which was attended by the main opposition party leaders and several other council officers. How naive do you have to be to think somebody wouldn’t leak details?

5. The only people writing letters in defence of this payout are known Lib Dem activists. Richard Brown’s claim it won’t affect taxes or services beggars belief.

This whole thing looks suspiciously like a cover-up. Keep digging everybody, and we’ll get to the truth.

Dr Scott Marmion,

Woodthorpe, York