West Sussex County Council is currently without the services of its chief executive. County hall in Chichester said on Friday evening (September 27) Nathan Elvery is 'currently away from his duties'. Mr. Elvery joined the council in 2016 and, according to our local democracy reporter, has a salary of £190,000 a year. A £47,500 payment was also made to him as a 'resettlement allowance' when he joined the authority from Croydon. The county council has lately received highly critical official inspectors' reports into its children's services, and its fire and rescue service. A series of measures and additional budgets to improve both services has been put into place.