Else Kvist AFTER weeks of silence Tower Hamlets Council has announced that its chief executive is no longer in his post. In a statement issued by the Town Hall the council claims that a fresh approach is required despite the council being awarded four

Else Kvist

AFTER weeks of silence Tower Hamlets Council has announced that its chief executive is no longer in his post.

In a statement issued by the Town Hall the council claims that a "fresh approach" is required" despite the council being awarded four star status by government inspectors under Martin Smith. He had been in the job just two years.

Councillors discussed the details of the 'pay-off' Mr Smith will receive at the end of the cabinet meeting when the public and press were excluded. The Advertiser has learned that councillors were told Mr Smith will be paid around �400,000 from council tax payers' coffers.

The council's statement was handed to the Advertiser after last night's cabinet meeting at the Town Hall. It came after we had gone to press with this week's newspaper edition.

The statement reads: "The communities of Tower Hamlets and future direction of the organisation now require a fresh approach to deliver the council's priorities around housing, education, tackling unemployment and creating a safer and cleaner borough for everyone.