Tonbridge will NOT share council chief executive with Gravesham any more: Cost-saving plan is ditched

An innovative plan that saw two councils sharing the same chief executive has been scrapped, the BBC reports.

Gravesham Council and Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council became the first in the county to share the role when David Hughes took charge last year.

It was a cash-saving idea designed to save at least £100,000.

But a meeting of the full Gravesham council, now under Labour control, voted to abolish the role from 1 February.

It had been due to expire next July, but councillors agreed that Mr Hughes would take up the sole position at Gravesham now.

It means he will leave the post at TMBC that he has held for nine years.

A spokesperson for Tonbridge and Malling Council told the BBC it was reviewing its senior management structure "with a view to securing financial savings".

It added: "With the ending of the shared chief executive arrangement the council wishes to take stock and determine what management structure is appropriate to take the council forward over the coming years."