A DEAL which has seen Basildon Council’s boss take flexible retirement is available for other staff.

Bala Mahendran, the council’s chief executive, has announced he will go part-time and work just three days a week from 2013 in what the council calls “flexible retirement”.

The 54-year-old, who will still be paid more than £100,000 a year, is making the change as part of a review of the council’s most senior officers set to save £700,000 over the next three years.

The council has confirmed a similar procedure has been in place for all council staff for some time.

Caroline Nugent, Basildon Council’s human resources manager, said: “Early and flexible retirement was incorporated into council procedures in 2006, following changes to statutory pension regulations, and is available to employees aged over 55 where it fits business requirements.”

The council confirmed since 2006, 16 members of staff have taken flexible retirement and six have taken early retirement.

Mr Mahendran has faced anger over whether he will be able to fulfil the chief executive’s workload in three days, as no-one else is being brought in to cover the two days a week he will be off.

Mr Mahendran, who lives in Ilford, East London, claimed his three days will involve sufficient flexibility to allow him to carry out all his duties.

Ann Glover, Unison’s regional officer, said: “If this deal is something the chief executive is going to enjoy, I just hope it is something that really will be available to the rest of his staff.”