The replacement for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority chief executive who left his job with a £94,500 pay-out is set to be revealed next month.

Martin Whiteley, who had been receiving a £182,000 salary for his role, left his post last year with a £94,500 pay out without serving a notice period.

It has been confirmed Mr Whiteley’s replacement for the “circa £185,000” a year job should be known in March.

Patrick Arran, interim monitoring officer at the combined authority said Mr Whiteley’s employment ended “with his resignation by mutual agreement”.

The deadline for applications for Mr Whiteley’s post passed in January, and yesterday (February 25) interim chief executive John Hill said the authority is now at the shortlisting stage.

According to a job advert for the post, the combined authority is looking for an established chief executive who is a “strong organisational leader, independent of mind, and a skilled negotiator”.

Speaking at the authority’s overview and scrutiny committee, Mr Hill said the authority’s employment committee, which meets on March 26, should be in a position to make a recommendation next month.

He said, however, that, depending which candidate is successful, it might take a while to get them in post, depending on their required notice period.

Kim Sawyer, who shares the joint interim chief executive post with Mr Hill, said, following the recommendation from the employment committee, the authority’s board, which meets on March 27, is likely to be in a position to confirm the new posting.