Peter Gilroy

Former Kent County Council chief executive Peter Gilroy has paid back a controversial £18,000-plus payment to himself that was “not permitted in law”.

Mr Gilroy, who left the authority last year, authorised the cash for running the 2009 county council elections despite already earning a salary of more than £210,000.

He claims he felt uneasy about awarding himself the money at the time, and that it was he who commissioned the review into returning officers’ pay which concluded the decision was not permitted in law.

However, it was revealed at the full council meeting today (Thursday) that Mr Gilroy had paid the money back.

“This was an open, transparent process in which I sought advice at the time and followed previous practice,” said Mr Gilroy earlier this month.

“If something has gone wrong then I will do whatever is appropriate. If they say that [paying the money back] is the only way to rectify this then I will do the right thing.

“If there was something to hide then I would never have sought advice in the first place.”