THE long-awaited report into the suspension of two senior officers at South Lakeland District Council has been completed and recommendations are due to be discussed at a closed doors meeting next Friday (January 14).

An un-named independent expert in local government has been investigating since last April, following the suspensions of three senior council officers, who are understood to be chief executive Philip Cunliffe, finance director Jack Jones and human resources manager Andrew Taylor. Mr Taylor has since resigned.

The suspensions came after it emerged that the authority's new pay and grading structure was to cost £1.6 million, or £1 million more than originally estimated.

An announcement about Mr Cunliffe and Mr Jones is expected following the council meeting. Mr Cunliffe said yesterday (Thursday) he could not comment until after the meeting, while Mr Jones was unavailable. SLDC bosses said the suspensions do not imply any misconduct.