Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council chief executive Robin Hooper will leave his post at Christmas because the position will not be needed under a unitary council, it was revealed today.

It comes less than a week after Labour councillors staged a shock walk-out at a full meeting of the borough council in protest at a proposal to offer him a payment to leave the authority early.

The day-to-day running of the council will be undertaken by Geraint Morgan – the present deputy chief. 

He will have the role of council manager until a new Shropshire unitary authority takes over. That will be in April 2009.

A borough council statement released today said the move comes after the Government announced its intention to create a unitary authority for Shropshire, meaning that six councils will become one – needing just one chief executive.

It says: “The bid for unitary status for Shropshire stated financial savings would be made as part of the justification for proposing it.

“Some of the financial savings would come from reducing employee numbers in areas which would not be needed in the unitary council.

“One of those employee groups is that of chief executive where it will not be necessary to employ chief executives of all six councils and only one will be required and it is proposed by Government that the post would be advertised on a national basis.

“Agreement has been reached with Mr Hooper that he will leave his post at Christmas.”

Mr Hooper today said he has thoroughly enjoyed being SABC chief executive over the past eight years.

“I believe the borough has changed in a positive way and hope the progress made will continue for many years to come,” he said.

“I should like to pay tribute to the many people with whom I have worked either from within the council or outside for without them the last eight years would not have been as productive or enjoyable.”

By Rebecca Lawrence