Norfolk County Council is to revive its role of chief executive, with a salary of up to £200,000 - four years after axing the job.

The Conservative-controlled council is looking to bring back the chief executive job, which it had got rid of in 2018.

Eastern Daily Press: Norfolk County Council is looking to recruit a new chief executiveNorfolk County Council is looking to recruit a new chief executive (Image: Mike Page)

Former council leader Andrew Proctor had made the switch from a chief executive to an executive leader model, with Tom McCabe as the £162,000 a year head of paid service.

It triggered the exit of managing director Dr Wendy Thomson, who had been on £183,600 a year.

Eastern Daily Press: Tom McCabeTom McCabe (Image: Supplied)

But Mr Proctor is no longer the leader of the council, having taken a leave of absence for health reasons.

And Kay Mason Billig, who succeeded Mr Proctor as leader at County Hall after winning a Conservative leadership contest against his deputy Graham Plant, has started the process to revert to a chief executive model.

Eastern Daily Press: Norfolk County Council leader Kay Mason BilligNorfolk County Council leader Kay Mason Billig (Image: Norfolk County Council)

A report, which will come before the council's employment committee on Wednesday, May 31 proposes the council changes its management structure and looks to recruit a chief executive, with a salary of between £192,000 and £200,000.

The report states it would be a "more orthodox structure", with advantages including a single point of accountability and a clear management line.

Mrs Mason Billing, who chairs the employment committee, said: "My new administration wants to do everything it can to deliver for the people of Norfolk – and I believe it is worth considering this role, to ensure that we can drive forward change at pace."

Steve Morphew, leader of the opposition Labour group said the original decision "to replace a CEO with a politician as top manager" had "made no sense" and had led to millions being spent on consultants.

Eastern Daily Press: Steve Morphew, leader of the opposition Labour group at Norfolk County CouncilSteve Morphew, leader of the opposition Labour group at Norfolk County Council (Image: Archant)

He said: "A sensible management can’t come soon enough but clearing up the legacy of this failed Conservative experiment will disrupt the organisation still further and add even more to the cost."