Following Lancashire County Council's failure to appoint a new Executive Director of Education and Children's Services, it's now decided under urgent business by the Leader of the Council supported by the Cabinet to pay £1,125 a day to an interim Executive Director for an undetermined period.

This could result in an on cost to the people of Lancashire of £300,000 a year with additional cost.

Before Christmas the Conservatives used standing order 35 as a reason to push through their senior management restructuring proposals, avoiding consideration by full council and scrutiny through the call in procedure. This followed two previous attempts to bulldoze through similar proposals which were ruled illegal and had to be withdrawn.

The ruling party claimed at the time that this restructuring would be cost neutral, even though there were no actual cost provided to support such a claim.

The initial £1,125 a day post was for interim Director of Education and Children's Services, which has now been upgraded to Executive Director. Any additional costs are still to be negotiated but a further £9,000 a month has been identified.

Lancashire now has an interim Chief Executive, they are appointing this interim post of Executive Director of Education and Children's Services and they have still to appoint an Executive Director of Growth, Environment, Transport and Community Services further failure to appoint this post could result in a further £300,000 a year interim appointment.

Cllr John Fillis, Labour Deputy Leader, said "This is all part of the Conservative shabby and shift senior management restructuring. Which they have tried to hide behind savage cuts to local services."

"It's clear that the Conservative plans would not save money, but it will actually cost the people of Lancashire Millions of Pounds. Their total mismanagement of the situation failed to take into consideration that their plan was fag packet politics without any sound evidence base."

"This will result in deeper and deeper cuts that will are spiralling out of control. We must be open and honest with the people of Lancashire regarding what is happening to their service. This is a chaotic Conservative Council and the responsibility lies with every Conservative Councillor who supported the Senior Management Restructuring."

"The urgent report has been declared as "Not for Publication" to hide that facts behind the Conservative failures.

"Local people have a right to know what's happening in their council."