CONCERN has been raised about the circumstances surrounding the departure of a senior council officer who oversaw the introduction of controversial fortnightly waste collections.

Sean Little left his post as head of waste and street scene at Richmondshire District Council at the end of April.

It is understood Mr Little received a payment of £22,500 from the authority.

Documents obtained by the Darlington and Stockton Times show Mr Little was signed off work because of stress in December last year. He then made a number of complaints about his treatment by councillors.

The papers show that the officer received the payment on the agreement that he did not take the council to an employment tribunal for unfair or constructive dismissal.

Liz Smith, the council's deputy chief executive, who agreed the payment after discussing the issue with senior councillors Bill Glover and Mick Griffiths, said in the document: "Had we not reached agreement with Sean Little, it is my view that he would have continued to be certified sick.

"This would have been long-term and last at least until his sick pay entitlement ran out."

She added that this would have cost the council more than the payment amount.

Coun Griffiths said yesterday he had full confidence in the officer.

"It was the right decision," he added.

A confidential agreement was signed with Mr Little, meaning neither he nor members of the authority could discuss the issue with residents or the media.

One of the members who Mr Little made a complaint about was Hawes councillor John Blackie. He claimed Coun Blackie had orchestrated a campaign against the authoritys change to fortnightly rubbish collections and put him, as the officer in charge of the changes, under undue pressure.

Coun Blackie was later cleared by the councils standards committee of any wrongdoing.

The councillor yesterday raised concerns about the way Mr Littles departure had been handled.

He said: "It is of huge concern that council officers have signed a confidential agreement binding all members of the council without discussing the terms of the agreement, and the substantial financial settlement it protects, with those members.

"This could allow the potential for a cover-up involving council taxpayers money."

Coun Blackie said it was in the public interest that the council operated in an open and transparent way.

He added: "These events undermine this overriding objective and so have a sinister dimension to them."

A spokesman for Richmondshire District Council confirmed that Mr Little left the council in April.

He said: "As this is a personnel matter, we are unable to go into any further detail."

Alternate weekly rubbish collections were introduced by the council in June last year.

They received a lukewarm reception from residents in some areas of the district.

People living away from the roadside, who were told they now had to move their bins to the kerb, were particularly critical.

Some householders directed their criticisms at Mr Little, as the officer in charge of the waste collection service.

He hit back, saying the new system had encouraged record numbers to recycle, exceeding council targets.