Lewisham Council’s outgoing chief executive Ian Thomas will remain in the local authority’s employment and pay until December 31.

Janet Senior is currently acting under “delegated authority” as chief executive.

This comes as more details emerge about Mr Thomas’ abrupt departure, announced early this month, which suggest Mr Thomas will be receiving a salary of up to £185,000 until the end of the year.

The reasons for Mr Thomas’ departure have been a cause for speculation, with a public petition calling for clarity reaching 1,840 signatures.

Lewisham Council announced on October 29 that Mr Thomas was leaving the role, with the council “taking a new direction.”

The announcement said Mr Thomas would be stepping aside at the end of the year.

Four days later a press release on the council’s website indicated executive director for resources and regeneration Janet Senior was now acting chief executive.

The council’s communications department said the council did not comment on employee matters.

However, a council report explains Ms Senior became acting chief executive on October 29, after Mr Thomas delegated the role.

“On 29th October 2018, Ian Thomas announced that he had agreed that Janet Senior take on his chief executive responsibilities for the immediate future,” the report explains.

The report also confirms Mr Thomas’ last day of service will be December 31.

Ms Senior is the council’s executive director for resources and regeneration and served as interim chief executive last year.

The council’s announcement also explained Mr Thomas was appointed in March, before the local elections in May.

However seven of the nine councillors and council staff on the appointments panel are part of the present administration, including Mayor Damien Egan and members of his cabinet Cllr Brenda Dacres, Cllr Amanda de Ryk and Cllr Kevin Bonavia.

Former Mayor Sir Steve Bullock and former Lewisham Green party councillor John Coughlin were also on the panel.