COUNTY chiefs have answered ten questions posed by The Evening Star relating to the controversial appointment of Mrs HillFollowing concerns raised by members of the public and opposition politicians to the news, the Star asked for more information about how the decision was made.

COUNTY chiefs have answered ten questions posed by The Evening Star relating to the controversial appointment of Mrs Hill

Following concerns raised by members of the public and opposition politicians to the news, the Star asked for more information about how the decision was made.

Here are the ten questions we posed and Suffolk County Council's answers.

Q1. Who made the decision to appoint Andrea Hill and what decision was made on the salary package?

A. Details of the appointment and salary banding are on the SCC website.

Evening Star note: The council's website shows that the decision to appoint Andrea Hill was made by Jeremy Pembroke (Con), Jane Storey (Con), Graham Newman (Con), Julian Swainson (Lab) and Kathy Pollard (Lib).

Q2. Was there any objection from any member of the panel to the salary package?

A. Detail of the panel's decision are in the minutes which is also on the SCC website.

Evening Star note: The website shows that the decision to increase the salary was supported by three votes in favour with two abstentions. Mr Swainson and Ms Pollard abstained from voting against increasing the salary increase.

Q3. Did Mrs Hill make any salary, or salary package, demands?

A. The revised salary band was agreed at the staff appointments committee on March 6.

These papers were published on the SCC website prior to the meeting.

Q4. Did the appointment panel discuss whether or not Mrs Hill would move to Suffolk as a condition of her job?

A. Not discussed

Evening Star note: We are astonished this question was not asked.

Q5. Do you know whether or not Mrs Hill will move to Suffolk from her home in Cambridge?

A. No

Evening Star note: We believe the post holder of chief executive of Suffolk County Council (whatever his or her salary), should live a life as the other 700,000 people of Suffolk live. How can a major Suffolk post holder not live in the county?

Q6. Did the panel ask whether or not Mrs Hill moved to Bedfordshire when she was chief executive there?

A. Not discussed

Q7. Did Andrea Hill previously apply to Suffolk County Council?

Q8. If so, what position was applied for and when?

Q9. Was she offered the job?

Q10. Was the job offer withdrawn and, if so, why?

Answer 7-10

As a matter of policy we will only discuss successful candidates.

It is not fair to other applicants (to any post) to disclose their interest. To do so would prevent people applying for jobs in the county council and Suffolk people and services would suffer.