A town hall rebellion is on the cards as dissenting councillors try to block the £230,000 early retirement of chief executive John Cobley.

A knife-edge vote is expected as all 60 councillors meet in private tonight (Wednesday) to decide whether the money should be found from the public purse when the council is already facing £1 million budget cuts.

The Labour group has put forward a motion backing the officers' recommendations that Mr Cobley be allowed to retire early and to meet the £233,000 pension costs.

This has caused uproar among some Liberal Democrats and Conservatives who are determined to make Mr Cobley stay. He requested early retirement last month after 16 years at the helm. He is currently at home on paid leave.

Labour group leader Tim Young said: "There is no point in having a chief executive who has not got his heart in the job."

Labour councillors will be ordered to vote for Mr Cobley to be allowed to retire early, but they have the smallest number of members on the council.

Retirement costs for Mr Cobley, 52, the highest paid Colchester Council employee, were worked out in line with existing procedures which apply to all ranks of staff.

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