The formal appointment of a new county community protection chief for must be considered by councillors because of the size of his salary.

Leading firefighter Darryl Keen has been appointed as the county council’s director of community protection – almost two years after taking on the role on an interim basis.

Mr Keen initially took up the role in January 2017, when former post-holder, chief fire officer Roy Wilsher, was seconded to the National Fire Chiefs Council.

A permanent appointment when Mr Wilsher then chose to retire was delayed, because of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s bid to take over the governance of the fire and rescue service.

But the county council’s employment committee last Wednesday agreed Mr Keen should be appointed as director of community protection on an annual salary of £130,000.

As such, he is in charge of the fire and rescue service, as well as trading standards and the county community safety unit.

However no formal offer will be made until the group leaders have been consulted on the proposed salary, as it is more than £100,000 a year.

The employment committee is chaired by leader of the council Cllr David Williams and includes members of the Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Labour groups.