A council boss was handed almost £400,000 of taxpayers’ money to walk away from his job, new figures have revealed.

West Sussex County Council has finally revealed how much was paid to former chief executive Mark Hammond, who left his role in September amid claims of a row with the council leader.

Records for 2010/11 show Mr Hammond was paid £140,000 in compensation, on top of his £235,000 salary and expenses.

Opposition councillors have condemned the Tory administration’s reluctance to reveal the figures earlier and claimed the level of compensation was “ridiculous” given how quickly Mr Hammond took up a new £130,000 post at a quango.

In total the council paid out just under £570,000 in compensation costs to five employees last year.

As well as Mr Hammond, four senior officers received payouts after their roles were made redundant in a management restructure.

Lib Dem councillor James Walsh described Mr Hammond’s pay-off as “a disgraceful waste of money”.

He said: “It flies in the face of common sense and the aim of reducing expenditure. This is against a backdrop of cuts to care for the elderly and services for young people. It is especially ridiculous given the ease with which the former chief executive got a new job.”

Mr Hammond, who was one of the country’s highest paid council bosses, was appointed chief executive of the Equality and Human Rights Commission earlier this month.

Labour group leader Brenda Smith said: “The public had a right to know how much of their money was being spent and how.”

At the time of his departure a union claimed Mr Hammond was “sacked” by council leader, Louise Goldsmith. After two weeks on “extended leave” he announced his departure, to be replaced by Kieran Stigant on a salary of £175,000.

A council spokesman said: “Mr Hammond received his contractual six months’ salary in lieu of notice together with a payment of compensation for the contract’s termination. The figures are set out in the accounts in accordance with national requirements, and we will not comment further.”