IAN Thompson, Swindon Council's director of resources, is being made redundant.

Widely regarded as a first class local accountant, Mr Thompson, 52, is one of only a handful of senior officers to survive after previous chief executive Paul Doherty resigned last year.

Now new chief executive Simon Birch, who took up his post earlier this year, wants to stamp his mark on the council by restructuring the corporate management system a part of the authority heavily criticised in the recent Corporate Performance Assessment in which the council was branded "poor" by inspectors.

Born in Workington, Cumbria, Mr Thompson joined Thamesdown Borough Council as its chief finance and property officer in 1997 and has played a pivotal role implementing Swindon Council's Improvement Plan following the heavy criticism of last year. He is believed to be on a salary of around £80,000.

He said: "This is all subject to what is finally agreed at a special committee meeting on Tuesday, but I'm leaving to pursue other interests, although I have nothing firmed up at the moment.

"I think there comes a time to move on and this is all being done mutually. Simon (Birch) has come in from outside and has his own ideas about what he wants to do. I'm pleased to say the council's finances are very sound, which is very pleasing given some of the problems we had 12- months ago.

"The council wants to bring in fresh blood and new ideas and that's good all round. I've seen a lot of change over the past six years."

Only John Short, head of Swindon Services, remains as a senior public servant from the reign of Mr Doherty. A period of intense upheaval shook the Civic Offices in Euclid Street to its knees ahead of Mr Doherty's resignation when social services director Marie Seaton and education director Mike Lusty both left.

And In August last year then council leader Sue Bates (Lab, Gorse Hill and Pinehurst) who just months earlier wrote to Mr Doherty asking him to resign quit herself as pressure mounted.

It is understood Mr Thompson was offered a downgraded post within the council, but refused it. He will now receive a sizeable redundancy package.

Council leader Mike Bawden (Con, Old Town and Lawns) added: "Ian Thompson has made major contributions to Swindon Council during his employment and the borough's sound financial disciplines are down to his professional accountancy skills.

"He has played a considerable part in the implementation of the Improvement Plan over the past 18-months. His record of accountancy in local government is first class and we have no doubt he will find a new challenge in the future and we wish him every success."