A permanent replacement for Northumberland County Council's controversial CEO Daljit Lally has finally been approved by councillors.
A meeting of full council voted to approve the appointment of Dr Helen Paterson on Wednesday after Mrs Lally left the council in July following a long-running dispute with leading councillors.
Dr Paterson, whose annual salary of £199,000 was described as "eye-wateringly high" by one councillor last week, is currently chief executive at Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council and will join Northumberland in the spring.