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Council backs bonus
A COUNCIL has defended its chief executive after his £24,000 bonus was confirmed.
John Jory received the bonus from Mid Sussex Council in the same year that a loss-making Big Culture Show arts festival was staged.
But after media interest in the bonus, the council says Mr Jory has helped it saved 2.6million in three years and reduced management costs.
At the time of the show, the Mid Sussex Times exclusively revealed the show was in trouble because of slow ticket sales and people claiming prices were too high.
The council reported that the Big Culture Show made a loss of 215,000 in May, 2007, despite a headline performance by chart hit band The Feeling.
Other events were poorly attended with just over 1,000 tickets sold.
Soon after a cabinet member quit and then the council's head of leisure, and the council has not repeated the festival since.
Leader Gordon Marples said: "Mid Sussex District Council is always open about its finances, full details are published on our website and include details of the Chief Executive's salary at 122,592 which reflects his additional responsibilites as Returning Officer. The Chief Executive, John Jory, also received a bonus last year of 24k which reflected the achievement of a number of agreed, demanding performance targets.
"Since taking up his position, John Jory has been instrumental in changing the way this council runs its business and we have seen service improvements and a reduction in headcount and costs generally. For instance, at senior management level, numbers have been reduced from 15 to nine over the past four years with current annual savings of 257,000.
"Over the past three years, we have made 2.6million of savings, making Mid Sussex District Council the third best council in England for making efficiencies and this overall improvement was recognised recently by the Audit Commission who awarded a score of three out of four for use of resources with 'performing well and delivering value for money'.
"To attract and retain executives capable of running an efficient business which currently employs 500 people requires a remuneration package which is competitive with realistic incentives based on performance to deliver further improvements."
What do you think about this? Email the Mid Sussex Times newsdesk by clicking here. (dianne.jones@sussexnewspapers.co.uk)
For comprehensive coverage of all the stories making the local news, read Thursday's edition of the Mid Sussex Times newspaper. Website users who wish to purchase a copy of the Middy newspaper but live outside our circulation area can do so by telephoning 01403 751200 and asking for reception. The cost of the newspaper plus postage in England is 1.53 which can be paid for by credit card. Overseas rates are also available, on request.
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Weather for Haywards Heath
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 10 C to 26 C
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