Taxpayers have been warned there is no end in sight to a council controversy which has already cost them a small fortune.

In December Worthing Borough Council chief executive Sheryl Grady will have been off work for two years.

Councillors, who will meet on Wednesday, have been warned: "There is still no clarity as to when this matter might be resolved."

The council has been asked by The Argus to provide the overall cost to the public purse so far.

The last figures released, in March, revealed that legal fees were estimated then at more than £140,000.

That sum excluded the £100,000 a year salary which Miss Grady was still receiving.

Now the council wants to appoint an interim chief executive to take on Miss Grady's work in her absence, which means residents will be paying the wages of two top officers.

Councillor Keith Mercer, leader of the council, said: "I feel powerless to do anything about it. There is no end date in sight at the moment so we are taking steps to address that by appointing an interim chief executive. We shall be looking externally to appoint."

Councillor Bob Smytherman, leader of the Lib Dem opposition, said the situation was appalling. He said: "It is the taxpayer who has to foot the bill."

A report to the Cabinet written by Mike Bleakley, the council's assistant director of policy development, said: "This is a very difficult and sensitive issue.

"It is now 21 months since the council's chief executive went on extended sick leave. Despite this long period, there is still no clarity as to when the matter may be resolved.

"The absence of a chief executive to lead the council continues to have a significant adverse impact."

Coun Mercer said independent barrister Adrian Lynch QC, who charged £325 an hour, hoped to hold a procedural hearing on October 18 to determined how to proceed in relation to Miss Grady, who went on long-term sick leave after the launch of an investigation into staff allegations of misconduct against her.

Earlier this year The Argus revealed Miss Grady had been secretly offered £100,000 by the council to step down, but the 48-year-old mother-of-one rejected the offer, stating she wanted to return to her desk.

Miss Grady completely refuted any misconduct charges.