MALVERN'S town clerk is being granted early retirement but the mayor admits he has "no idea" what the decision will cost the taxpayer.

Malvern town councillors were called to a special meeting last Thursday in answer to a request from the town clerk and treasurer, Stuart McDonough, to take early retirement.

Members voted to grant the request on undisclosed grounds with one dissenting voice, the Priory ward councillor Roger Hall-Jones, who is now planning to lodge a complaint with the District Auditor.

Mayor David Williams said he did not know how much it would cost.

In a statement, the town council said that Mr McDonough would receive the benefits due to him under the Council Policy on Early Retirement Applications.

The town council's policy states that "a cost benefit analysis will precede every decision to approve redundancy or early retirement".

Coun Hall-Jones described the town council as a "sinking ship" adding that recent events were "extraordinary".

He said he was going to report the council's activities to the District Auditor because he did not agree with Mr McDonough's reasons for taking early retirement and he did not agree with the way the meeting had been handled.

"The question is, has he a case for early retirement or not?" he said.

He said all the councillors' papers were collected after the meeting and he was told he could not have them back because the report contained classified information.

"But I'm entitled to have a copy of the report on which I voted," he said.

He said he also asked how much Mr McDonough's pension would cost.

"But I was told that information wasn't available," he said.

Mr McDonough, who has been unavailable for comment, was appointed town clerk and treasurer in 1996, when the job was advertised on a salary scale of £31,152 to £37,963. He previously worked for Malvern Hills District Council.

Malvern Town Action Group, which is protesting at this year's tax rise and the council's spending plans, initially demanded his resignation when they called for the entire town council to resign and face the electorate.

That was subsequently withdrawn on the grounds that Mr McDonough is a paid employee of the council.

Just over 15 per cent of Malvern residents voted in the poll, with more than 3,000 calling for councillors to resign and seek re-election and approval for their spending plans.

The council has yet to make a formal reaction to the poll but it was listed on last night's agenda for a one minute debate.

Town Meeting ends in uproar, Page 3.