Man emigrates to Australia but keeps his job in England

Fenland District Council is to retain its successful £100,000 a year finance director despite the fact he is emigrating to Australia.

As 44 year-old Mat Taylor sets up home 10,000 miles away in Adelaide he will work one day a week - and keep the finance chief post - thanks to the wonders of modern technology.

"When the idea was put to me my first question was 'is there a precedent?" said Council Leader Geoff Harper. "The answer was 'no'. I then asked if it was legal - and was told that it was. So here we are - and the council is confident it will work well both for us and Mat."



"We have found an exciting and innovative way of retaining his considerable expertise until we have recruited someone who can replace him."

The council's deputy chief executive Sandra Claxton said that the only other option open to the council was to appoint an interim manager - at a cost of £800 a day - and begin the process to find Mr Taylor's successor. However the interim manager would be unfamiliar with Fenland's structure and operating practices "and an interim manager could not possibly be expected to fulfil all the requirements of the permanent post."

By retaining Mr Taylor for one day a week- for an initial 12 month period- it would ensure "the council's smooth running from the point of his departure, a seamless handover to the new appointee and continued coaching and support thereafter."