A RECENTLY re-elected councillor was shocked to discover he had been “sacked” by letter.

Peter Atkinson, Brighton and Hove city councillor for North Portslade, received a P45 despite retaining his seat in the May 2 elections.

He said: “I thought maybe there had been a recount without me knowing.”

Cllr Atkinson, right, increased his majority in 2015 from 100 to almost 1,000 this year. So he was “taken aback” when he received his marching orders.

The mistake turned out to be a computer error. The Labour councillor said: “All councillors receive a basic allowance, which is taxed. This means when a councillor loses their seat at an election, they receive a P45.”

Brighton and Hove city councillors earn just under £12,000 a year.

Those with “special responsibilities” such as chairing committees or leading the council, are paid an extra £22,000 to £31,512 a year.

The total yearly amount paid to councillors, according to 2018 figures available on the council’s website, is £841,386.

Cllr Atkinson said: “We have a small team within the council called democratic services and they look after all the committees and also help councillors with any problem they might have.

“They’re a great bunch of hard-working people and soon put the problem straight, which was caused by a computer error,”

“All’s well that ends well.

“And I look forward to serving the residents of North Portslade for a further four years”