THE £157,000-a-year acting head of Stoke-on-Trent City Council is seeking a pay-off after claiming his role is untenable, The Sentinel can reveal.

Chris Harman has been on paid sick leave since failing to become the authority's permanent chief executive two weeks ago.

Now lawyers are in talks over an unspecified pay-off to end Mr Harman's time at the council.

News of the negotiations come as it emerges that his successor, John van de Laarschot, is now spending two days a week at the civic centre in an advisory role.

Mr van de Laarschot is not picking up a salary, but travel and hotel costs are being met by city taxpayers.

In the meantime talks are continuing with Mr van de Laarschot's employers, Torridge District Council, to persuade them to release him from his contract.

If successful, the former Coca-Cola and Pepsi boss could be running the city as soon as next month.

It would leave the cash-strapped council having to find cash to pay-off Mr Harman, come to a deal with Torridge and pay Mr van de Laarschot sooner than expected.

Mr Harman has been interim chief executive for the past year and was down to the last three in the battle to land the £195,000-a-year permanent post.

But he was expected to have stepped down to his previous assistant chief executive position after missing out on the top job.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council today repeated its official line that Mr Harman is on leave, and remains the council's interim chief executive.

But council sources expect a deal to be thrashed out within days which would allow Mr Harman to leave and pave the way for Mr van de Laarschot's early arrival.

One council figure said: "Talks about a settlement have been going on since Chris Harman first went on leave. He says his position became untenable when councillors on the interview panel chose not to back him for the permanent job, as he felt he could not carry on knowing they did not support him."

Urgent managerial decisions are being taken by the authority's director of regeneration, Tom Macartney, in consultation with Mr van de Laarschot.

Council leader Ross Irving declined to comment on the nature of negotiations with Mr Harman, or the likelihood of a pay-out being agreed.

He said: "It is a somewhat delicate situation. But we need to have discussions and make sure that whatever we do is the path to take."

But Potteries Alliance leader Councillor Peter Kent-Baguley said: "I think the interim chief executive should be at his desk.

"If he feels he hasn't got the support of the members, then he should resign."

Read more stories about Chris Harman and the situation at the city council:

Who did what – and when

Council facing costly dilemma over absence

Sentinel Leader column: You must be joking

City council acting chief wants pay-off

Council boss still missing

My quarrel is not with the staff – it's with the leaders

Martin Tideswell: Civic Centre panto continues to amaze – oh, yes it does

Demand for statement

Outrage over acting boss

New council chief fizzing over size of new challenge