£50,000 cost of town clerk hunt

The cost of appointing a town clerk in Ludlow has soared to about £50,000, it was revealed today. It has been claimed potential applicants are being put off by the town council's poor reputation.Another possible turn-off from the Ludlow Town Council job is the changes that will take place when a unitary authority is created.

Today Councillor Martin Taylor-Smith, a district councillor who represents the town, said he was disappointed the cost of recruitment, part-time cover and a pay-off to former clerk Paul Russell was rising to about £50,000.

In September, the figure was £30,000. The authority advertised for a clerk but could not find one. It has since launched a second bid.

Councillor Taylor-Smith said: "It's a shame that all of this money is being spent on recruitment and cover when it could be going elsewhere."

Deputy mayor Jim Smithers said Ludlow's negative publicity was not helping.

He said: "Our reputation is not as it was and there are concerns about the effects of a new unitary authority. Both factors are relevant.

"But you have to remember we are saving money on a town clerk's salary."

Councillor Smithers admitted the town's reputation had suffered. He said: "People now realise that Ludlow is not a utopia. There are divisions. But I am hopeful that things will improve."

The town council has recently cut budgets and refused to renew a £2,000 grant to Cittaslow, the so-called Slow City movement.

Councillor Graeme Kidd, Ludlow's former mayor and the president of Cittaslow UK, said: "It's disappointing. The town has been promoting its links with Cittaslow during the recruitment process."