PRESSURE is mounting on Bolton Council to reveal the result of an internal review into its decision not to disclose whether its former chief executive was paid off.

The Bolton News asked for the review in December when the council refused to reveal whether Paul Najsarek received a pay-off after quitting his job in November.

The authority said the requested under the Freedom of Information Act was confidential and could not be disclosed.

Mr Najsarek, who had served just five months as the borough’s top officer, has gone on to secure a new job as chief executive of Ealing Council in London.

But our wait for information on the details of his departure continues.

According to the Information Commissioner’s Office, reviews of Freedom of Information decisions should be carried out within 20 working days of such a request.

Yet with more than 50 working days now having passed since The Bolton News' request was submitted, the council has said it needs more time.

A spokesman said: “We are currently undertaking a full and detailed review of our original response to the FOI request.

"As soon as this review is completed, we will inform the applicant of our decision.”

It is understood that the council’s Corporate Information Unit has now reviewed its work on the case and has passed its results on to the borough solicitor’s office.

Mr Najsarek cited family reasons for his decision to quit the council and return to London — but town hall sources have repeatedly stated that his relationship with the authority’s leadership had broken down.

This is something that has been refuted by council leader Cllr Cliff Morris.

Opposition leaders have criticised the authority for not providing the review results sooner.

Lib Dem leader Cllr Roger Hayes said: “I think that is far too long. I certainly don’t think it would have taken so long to decide whether or not they were going to pay him off or even to decide whether they would release that information.

“I am amazed that they are dragging it out this long — Bolton residents deserve to know this information and they deserve to know it now.”

UKIP chief and Little Lever and Darcy Lever Cllr Sean Hornby said: “I think it is becoming more and more obvious that he received some form of pay-off and the council should save themselves further embarrassment by coming clean.

“There is no two ways about this — it is going to come out eventually.”

Tory leader Cllr David Greenhalgh added: “The people of Bolton have a right to know this information — the council is happy to go back to residents and raise council tax but it won’t be transparent on issues like this.”