EAST Lothian Council is facing moves to force a U-turn on its controversial deal to give its top official a £130,000 redundancy pay-off on top of a £200,000 retirement package.
Chief executive John Lindsay persuaded the council to abolish his department, resulting in the redundancy deal.
The decision has sparked outrage, particularly among council taxpayers in East Lothian, prompting independent councillor Charles Ingle
to call for the deal to be re-examined.
He is appealing to all East Lothian councillors to back his request to void the deal, which he claims councillors were "not made fully aware of" before it was raised at last month's full council meeting.
In order to succeed with the "rescinding resolution", he needs the support of five other elected members.
But with only seven councillors - including Councillor Ingle - outwith the Labour administration, he knows he will face a tough challenge.
Cllr Ingle, who represents Haddington, said: "I'm not deluding myself with this one, it is more hope than expectation.
"But I feel that with something as serious as this, that report should have been circulated well in advance to allow people the chance to get their heads around it and not on the morning of the full council meeting.
"A number of councillors are unhappy with the manner in which the report was submitted.
"This resolution is providing the authority with the opportunity to react to the genuine concerns of the residents and the genuine concerns that the councillors themselves have.
"This is a way out for the council. They can resolve this matter to the mutual benefit of the general public and themselves.
"It doesn't mean we can't look at mergers in the future, but we can find out the facts first."
Cllr Ingle said he has been questioned by "dozens and dozens" of constituents who have displayed "anger, resentment and frustration" about the retirement package.
He said they have demanded to know what can be done to reverse the decision and he is now planning to launch a petition on their behalf.
In his letter to councillors, councillor Ingle asked that the report detailing the merger "be rescinded on the grounds that the information within the report is incomplete".
He has not yet received any response, but believes he has some allies.
David Berry, the council's sole SNP member, last week said he would report the deal to the Accounts Commission, which polices council spending.
He said he hasn't yet seen the letter sent out by Cllr Ingle, but said he would "certainly consider the resolution".
He added: "This is not about John Lindsay and the retirement package he deserves.
"I'm more concerned about the manner in which this has been done.
"If this is what the resolution is doing, I would be minded to support it.
"If it's to step back and consider this another way, I would be inclined."
It was revealed last week that staff at East Lothian Council were given just £200 in store vouchers for serving the same length of time as the chief executive.
Six workers at East Lothian Council with more than 40 years' service were each given the vouchers to spend at John Lewis.
