THE borough’s opposition party leaders have united in describing the £90,000 settlement received by Paul Najsarek as a “disgrace” and an “abuse of public money”.

The leaders of Bolton’s Conservative, UKIP and Liberal Democrat parties joined The Bolton News in calling for information on Mr Najsarek’s pay-off to be released.

All have expressed shock at the amount which has now been confirmed.

Cllr David Greenhalgh, Bolton Tory leader, said: “It is absolutely disgraceful and it shows what is completely wrong with the way the public sector operates.

“Why should the money of the people of Bolton be used to get rid of this man?”

He said serious questions also needed to be asked about the council contract that was put in place.

“Why was there no probation period and nothing to make sure that he adhered to the commitments he made when he was appointed, most importantly that he would move to the area?

“It is impossible to have a part-time chief executive and there should have been a claw-back in the contract on that issue.”

Cllr Greenhalgh added: “The people of Bolton will quite rightly be furious that at a time when services are being cut, their money is being spent to get rid of someone who was only in his post for five months who has then quickly gone on to pick up another post with a six figure salary — it is a disgrace.”

REVEALED: Bolton Council’s former chief executive given £90,000 pay-off after just FIVE months' work

YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW: Our determination to reveal the figure to Bolton's council tax payers

UKIP leader Sean Hornby said: “It is absolutely scandalous — quite simply it is an abuse of public money and I think there should be an investigation into why that figure is so high.

“I want assurances that things have been put in place to make sure this does not happen with any future chief executives. I also want to see a copy of the contract that Mr Najsarek signed.

“The people of Bolton will be up in arms about this and quite rightly too. I am shocked by how much money he received.”

Cllr Roger Hayes, who leads Bolton’s Liberal Democrats, said there were still questions about how Mr Najsarek left his job.

He said: “If he purely left because he wanted to be near his family then surely there was no need for a negotiated settlement, he should just have been released from his contract?

“That makes me think that there is more to it.”

Cllr Hayes agreed that the settlement was “very high: “There is no justification for it at all and I think the public will be very annoyed. Many people won’t earn that amount in three years.”