‘Shocking waste of public money’ over WECA exit payments

‘Shocking waste of public money’ over WECA exit payments

Spending almost half a million pounds in a single year on exit payments for senior staff at the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) has been branded “a completely shocking waste of public money” by one councillor.

“Substantial” exit packages to three directors at the organisation, together with other settlements to conclude previous cases of senior staff departures, saw the combined authority pay out £475,713 in the 2024/25 financial year. External auditors Grant Thornton revealed the figure in their interim annual report , although WECA’s annual accounts put the figure at £441k for five exit packages.

At a meeting of WECA ’s audit committee on September 15, Jonathan Hucker ( Bristol City Council , Stockwood, Conservat