The former chief executive of West Somerset and Taunton Deane Borough Councils was paid more than £300,000 in redundancy in the run-up to the authorities merging.

Penny James served as chief executive of Taunton Deane for 15 years and five years in charge at West Somerset.

As the two authorities began the process of creating the new Somerset West and Taunton Council (SWAT), Ms James opted to take redundancy.

It has now emerged that she was paid a redundancy package of £343,000 – including nearly £89,000 for “loss of office” and more than £30,000 in pension contributions.

A further three officers were given between £138,000 and £196,000 each on leaving the organisation as a result of the ongoing transformation programme, which has seen nearly 200 staff leave as the way the new council provides services is streamlined and restructured.

The figures were published in the final accounts for both Taunton Deane and West Somerset.

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