POLITICIANS are preparing to set up a special panel to find a replacement for the former council chief who quit her £120,000 a year job under a cloud of secrecy.

East Staffordshire Borough Council will establish an appointments panel to identify a successor to Jeanette McGarry, former chief executive of the authority.

She quit her job a month ago after being suspended following the launch of an investigation into her conduct.

The authority and the ex-council chief have consistently resisted calls for the reasons behind her departure to be revealed.

A job description and person specification for the post has been drawn up and an advertisement for the vacancy placed.

The job is being advertised with an annual salary of £120,000 and is being trumpeted as "an ideal step for a visionary and strategist whose ambitions match those of the authority".

The vacancy description states: "At East Staffordshire we expect our chief executive officer to be an exemplar of the highest standards as well as someone who values the people they work with and the importance of providing clear authentic leadership to achieve high levels of performance and service delivery to all our customers."

The appointments panel is set to include the leader of the council, Alex Fox, who represents Abbots Bromley, and is earmarked to chair the group.

Deputy leaders of the authority will also serve on the board, together with the head of the opposition, councillor Julian Mott, or his nominee. Councillors, staff and partner organisation representatives will be invited to assist with the selection process at the discretion of the panel.

The panel are to be given a deadline of February 23 to make their recommendation.

The terms of Mrs McGarry's departure are still shrouded in secrecy, but it is reported she left with 10 months of her basic salary and three extra months of compensation – the equivalent of around £130,000.

Mrs McGarry was appointed chief executive in January 2008 and took up the position in April. She replaced former chief executive Marie Ainsworth, who died from cancer.

Councillor Fox said Mrs McGarry had left the authority by "mutual consent".

He previously admitted: "What's happened is in the best interests of Mrs McGarry and the authority.

"I can assure everyone that the directors and senior members of the authority have been given the best possible advice both legally and from professional sources."

The council's corporate management team of Mahmood Azam and Andy O'Brien have taken charge until a replacement is found.

Mrs McGarry had previously been corporate director of community services at Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council.