County councillors today agreed to temporarily axe the chief executive’s role -after agreeing a job share with Peterborough City Council.

The council was told that “financially there would be a significant saving to the budget for 12 months”.

Outgoing chief executive Mark Lloyd - leaving to become chief executive of the Local Government Association- costs the council £254,160 for salary, on costs and pension.

By sharing with the chief executive of Peterborough, Gillian Beasley, Cambridgeshire says its portion of the savings would, over the next year, be £144,160.

Subject to Peterborough’s final rubber stamping, the agreement will run for a year, although it will be reviewed after six months.

A county council meeting today heard how the move could provide savings for both authorities “as well as encourage better shared working and a stronger voice in fighting for the area at a national level”.

Council leader Steve Count said: “The chief executive role is a challenging one and the council would not enter into a shared arrangement if we thought this may harm our goal of doing what is best for the Cambridgeshire communities we serve.

“We know Gillian is extremely talented and have already worked closely with her on many projects.

“Mark Lloyd will be a hard act to follow and has been instrumental in helping make sure Cambridgeshire has continued to prosper, even in a recession.”