A specail meeting has been called to discuss the proposed early retirement of Worthing Council chief executive Michael Ball.

The meeting will consider the reports and recommendations of a policy and resources committee held behind closed doors earlier this month.

At the previous meeting councillors agreed to grant Mr Ball early retirement from August 31 without him having to work his notice.

Mr Ball is also believed to have been awarded a lump sum of nearly £100,000, along with a pension of £32,000 a year.

The move was made to improve the efficiency and smooth running of the council.

Permission Mr Ball, who has been off work for three months to care for his sick wife, is believed to have been furious when refused permission for more leave, so opted for early retirement instead.

Acting chief executive Sheryl Grady will continue in the post until a new person is appointed.

This Thursday's meeting has been called after complaints from the Liberal Democrat opposition group about how the previous meeting was conducted.

Lib Dem group leader John Lovell said: "We had argued that the meeting should be held in public.

"It transpired that not all our members had been supplied with all relevant papers. We asked for an adjournment but did not win this and the vote was finally taken."

"If we had been listened to at the earlier meeting then both members and officers could have gone home at a sensible hour rather than be forced to debate a very important and sensitive issue at after 11pm at night.

"I trust that now this issue can be settled in a calm atmosphere."