The hunt to find a new £200,000-a-year chief executive to helm Norfolk County Council will now begin after councillors voted to revive the job

The council has decided to bring back the top officer role, four years after axing it for a different model.

Former leader Andrew Proctor had introduced the switch from a managing director to an executive leader arrangement, with Tom McCabe as the £162,000-a-year head of paid service.

Eastern Daily Press: Kay Mason Billig, leader of Norfolk County CouncilKay Mason Billig, leader of Norfolk County Council (Image: Norfolk County Council)

But, with Kay Mason Billig having recently become leader at the Conservative-controlled council, she decided to set the wheels in motion to bring back the chief executive role.

At a meeting of the council's employment committee on Wednesday (May 31), councillors voted to change the authority's management structure and recruit a chief executive, with a salary of £197,000.

Eastern Daily Press: Norfolk County Council's County Hall headquartersNorfolk County Council's County Hall headquarters (Image: Mike Page)

A report which came before councillors said that would mean a "more orthodox structure", with advantages including a single point of accountability and a clear management line.

Mrs Mason Billig said: "When I became leader of the county council, it was my intention to go back to having a chief executive because I do not feel the executive leader model is now fit for purpose for this council, because times have moved on.

She said there had been "good reasons" for the change four years ago, but she wanted to see more separation of the council's political role with the role of an officer to manage the day-to-day running of the authority.

Eastern Daily Press: Labour group leader Steve MorphewLabour group leader Steve Morphew (Image: Archant)

Steve Morphew, leader of the Labour group, said he supported the return of a chief executive, saying he could not understand why it was axed in the first place.

He said the change had contributed to "silting up", a reliance on consultants and duplication within the council.

Eastern Daily Press: Brian Watkins, leader of the Liberal Democrat groupBrian Watkins, leader of the Liberal Democrat group (Image: Liberal Democrats)

Liberal Democrat group leader Brian Watkins, said switching back was "quite compelling" and said: "I can see the rationale for changing back to a chief executive model."