THE former chief executive of the district council who was made redundant from his £63,000 a year job last November is sharply criticised this week in a report by the man who took over his role.

The report by Bromsgrove District Council's corporate director and district secretary, Bob Lewis, to members of the policy and resources committee which met last night, replied at length to many criticisms of the council following a Best Value inspection of its depot services last autumn.

Mr Lewis said almost all aspects criticised in the inspector's report were under the control of former boss David Bryant at the time.

The present management team, while not being responsible for his actions have, however, been left to pick up the pieces.

The introduction of a staff profit sharing scheme, Mr Bryant is alleged to have implemented, is one of many issues the inspector picked up on and which Mr Lewis addresses in his report.

The inspector notes the scheme allowed for all net surpluses at the depot to be shared with staff regardless of any link to productivity and, not has had happened in previous years, returned to council taxpayers.

The scheme would have resulted in individuals receiving ab-out £2,000.

Mr Lewis said this was proposed without the approval of councillors and was therefore unauthorised.

Mr Lewis said the inspectors included this criticism in their report even though they were aware the share scheme would not go ahead.

Negotiations are now going on to come up with a less generous scheme.

The inspectors' view that re-tendering for depot services is the best way forward is not accepted by council officers.

Mr Lewis states the present arrangement by the in-house team be continued.

Mr Lewis concludes by saying the report is flawed and asks councillors to endo-rse the action of officers who have registered their complaints with the inspectorate.