COUNCILLORS have retrospectively approved the appointment of the town’s new public health chief – with her pay packet to total up to almost £103,000 a year.

The appointment of Thara Raj as the council’s director of public health was backed during the virtual full council meeting on Monday, with a retrospective start date of August 1.

Under the authority’s pay policy and staff employment rules, all appointments with a remuneration package totalling more than £100,000 – the salary plus any applicable fees and allowances – are subject to full council approval.

The post became vacant following the departure of Dr Muna Abdel Aziz.

Ms Raj’s post is designated as Grade C on the pay and grading structure, which will see her earn between £95,264 and £102,841 in total.

Council leader Cllr Russ Bowden said the representation to full council was due to take place in March, but it did not because of the coronavirus pandemic.

He said Monday’s meeting was the first opportunity to bring the matter before members to secure retrospective approval of the decision.

“Obviously, members will be aware that senior officers with a remuneration package in excess of £100,000 are subject to approval of full council, on appointment,” he added.

“Obviously, the coronavirus crisis is fundamentally around public health and so we took the decision to proceed with the employment of Thara Raj as director of public health over that time, in order that the council was fully represented in public health matters that were key to the town in relation to the coronavirus crisis.”