POWYS council’s chief executive is to leave the authority – with a reported £180,000 pay-off having been off sick following a critical inspection report.

Jeremy Patterson took long term sick leave in October from his £189,000 a year post amid the fall out from a damning inspection report that identified key failings in the council’s children’s services.

The council has confirmed Mr Patterson, who had been chief executive since 2009, will leave the authority "by mutual consent" at the end of September but hasn’t confirmed any severance package.

It said in a statement: "Mr Patterson, who has been chief executive since 2009, will leave the council at the end of September by mutual consent. He has been on sick leave since the end of October last year."

Council leader Rosemarie Harris said: "I would like to thank Jeremy for his contribution to the county council for more than 20 years. He joined us from Shropshire after local government reorganisation, in 1996, and held a number of very senior positions with us before being appointed chief executive in 2009.

"There is no doubt that during his time with Powys, local government has gone through tremendous changes and he has played a key role in the management of the council. We wish him and his family all the very best for the future."

The story behind the chief executive’s departure - see this week’s Brecon & Radnor Express, on sale now, for the full story