A CONTROVERSIAL proposal to award a police chief £4,000 a year for private school fees was rejected at a meeting yesterday.

The recommendation that the soon-to-be-appointed new chief constable of Cleveland Police should be given the cash on top of a £105,000-a-year salary and £32,000 company car was described by members of the police authority as "outrageous".

Authority chief executive Peter Riley said it was becoming common practice for police authorities to meet private school fees for chief constables.

"The costs associated with this practice average out at £4,000 per annum for schools in this area," he said.

His report also recommended that the authority shell out £1,000 a year for private health insurance for the new chief constable, who will replace retiring chief Barry Shaw in March. That was also vetoed.

Independent member Alf Illingworth said it would be "just outrageous" for the authority to spend public money on school fees or health insurance for a police chief.

"I just think we should be seen to be supporting the national health service and public services," he said.

"In any event, I would suggest any thinking person who would like to avail themselves of private education or private health, with that salary, could very well afford to pay for it. It just goes against the grain."

Councillor Kath Sainsbury agreed. "I think in this case the package is sufficiently generous that the person appointed can make that choice," she said.

Most of the 13 members at the meeting at Middlesbrough Town Hall were against the school fees.

But independent member David Fewtrell said it was important to provide an attractive package to get the best person for the job.

"I get a whiff of political dogma around the table," he said. "We are in competition with other people to recruit. If other areas are going to provide it, we might lose out."

Suitable candidates for the post will be chosen by a Home Office panel and will then be interviewed by a small panel of authority members in December