A severance pay package for a former chief executive of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority has cost tax payers £105,000, it has been revealed.

The Authority paid out more than £11,000 for independent legal advice on top of a £94,500 pay out when their former chief executive left in the summer.

Martin Whiteley, the former chief executive of the combined authority, left in August. It is understood he resigned, but the reasons behind his departure remain unclear.

Last month it was revealed Mr Whiteley had been awarded a £94,500 severance package upon his departure.

Last week, when questioned by the Local Democracy Reporter Service, James Palmer, mayor of the combined authority said he had received “independent legal advice” on Mr Whiteley’s departure, but claimed he “could not remember” how much the advice had cost the authority.

Today (November 6), the combined authority confirmed the legal advice had been given by international law firm Trowers and Hamlin, had cost them £11,202, plus VAT.

“This advice was provided by Trowers and Hamlin Solicitors,” said a spokeswoman for the Combined Authority. “The cost was £11,202 plus VAT which was paid for by the Combined Authority.”

The combined authority was set up in 2017 and spearheads many major housing and infrastructure projects in the region, like a Cambridge metro, building a by-pass at King’s Dyke, and dualling the A47.

Last week, Mr Palmer said he did not believe the public was “even slightly interested” in the £94,500 pay off for Mr Whiteley, or the circumstances of his departure.

Mr Palmer said: “Martin Whiteley resigned after discussions we had about the direction the combined authority was going in. We have got interim chief executives in, the combined authority’s delivery is going in the right direction and I am very happy with the changes that have been made.”