LANCASHIRE County Council leader Geoff Driver has rejected claims he is pursuing ‘a vendetta’ against senior staff at the authority which could cost residents millions of pounds.

He was replying to his Labour counterpart Azhar Ali who fears the redundancy package for those losing their jobs in a management shake-up could top £2million.

Burnley-born Cllr Driver spoke out as Pendle Liberal Democrat Lord Tony Greaves urged the government to send in commissioners to run the authority.

The row follows confirmation of a management restructure which is expected to see chief executive Jo Turton and four other senior officers leave County Hall.

Cllr Ali, who represents Nelson East, was reacting to estimates of their redundancy packages of between £1.5 and £2million.

Ms Turton, who lacks the financial qualifications necessary for the new top job of chief executive and director of resources, is reported to be in line for a redundancy and pension package worth £578,500.

Ian Young, director of governance, finance and public services, could receive up to £300,000.

Deputy chief executive Steve Browne and two other senior staff who failed to secure jobs in the new structure are understood to be applying for voluntary redundancy.

Cllr Ali said: “Geoff Driver is running a vendetta against senior staff at the county council.

“This could cost council taxpayers an estimated £1.5 to £2million in redundancy and pensions payments and possibly millions more if the staff affected take other legal options available to them.”

Cllr Driver is one of four people on police bail on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and witness intimidation pending further investigations.

The inquiry is connected with the discontinued One Connect partnership between the county and BT.

Lord Greaves asked minister Lord Bourne to consider sending in a government inspector to County Hall but was rebuffed.

He said: “Surely the government cannot stand idly by while the county council descends into chaos.

“This shambolic situation is affecting the ability of the county council to tackle vital matters, not least the severe budget crisis.”

Cllr Driver said: “I am not running a vendetta against senior council staff.

“The management restructure was decided by cabinet not by me.

“It is driven by a need to streamline the operation of the county council to provide better services for the people of Lancashire.

“I cannot comment on supposed redundancy payment figures that were confidential in part two of a report as it is forbidden by law, as Cllr Ali should know but seems to ignore.

“I note that the government minister rejected Lord Greaves ridiculous request.

“The county council has recently made savings of £45 million a year, invested £1 million in bus services and started reopening libraries closed by the previous Labour-led administration.

“That doesn’t sound like chaos to me or failing to tackle the budget problem.”

Local government sources indicated the figures for any redundancy packages might have been inflated by adding together sums from different cash pots and over-estimating liabilities.

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: “Any costs quoted as part of redundancy payments are the total costs to the organisation and not a lump sum payment to the affected individual.

“The costs of any redundancies are legally due and are calculated on the basis of employment law.”