Former Erewash Borough Council chief executive Jeremy Jaroszek received a £96,113 exit package when he retired earlier this year, the authority has confirmed.
The details emerged after Ilkeston News questioned figures contained in the council’s draft unaudited accounts for 2025/26.
The accounts record Mr Jaroszek’s total remuneration for the year as £237,279. This comprised £116,727 in salary, £1,033 in benefits, the £96,113 exit amount and a £23,406 employer pension contribution.
The full £96,113 was recorded against the former chief executive under a column headed “compensation for loss of office”. A separate table listed an exit package of the same value under “other departures agreed”.
However, the council has clarified that the full amount was not compensation.
Of the £96,113, the authority said £28,268.55 was a loss-of-office payment. The remaining £67,844.45 related to payments made in accordance with the council’s contractual obligations.
The council has not explained precisely what those contractual obligations were or confirmed whether the amount included payment in lieu of notice.
Mr Jaroszek retired on 31 January 2026 after nearly 20 years as chief executive. The council publicly thanked him for his “sterling service” and wished him a long and happy retirement.
The financial arrangements surrounding his departure were approved by members of the General Purposes Committee on 17 December 2025, around six weeks before he left.
The press and public were excluded from the meeting because the report contained exempt information concerning individuals, employment matters and legal advice. Published minutes reveal only that councillors agreed the recommendations contained in the confidential report.
Under Erewash Borough Council’s pay policy, full council is given the opportunity to vote on severance payments worth £100,000 or more.
The policy states that the threshold includes all components of a package, including salary paid in lieu of notice, redundancy compensation, pension entitlements, holiday pay, bonuses, fees and allowances.
Mr Jaroszek’s £96,113 package was £3,887 below that threshold. The package was approved by members of the General Purposes Committee during the private session.
Responding to Ilkeston News, the council said: “The £96,113 disclosed in the draft accounts did not comprise solely a loss of office payment. Of this amount, £28,268.55 was a loss of office payment. The remainder related to payments made in accordance with the Council’s contractual obligations.”
The authority said members considered its contractual obligations, the financial implications of the available options and value for money for taxpayers before reaching their decision.
It added that it could not disclose the confidential report or the advice provided to councillors and does not comment on personal employment matters beyond its statutory reporting and transparency obligations.
The council has not provided any further explanation of why the £28,268.55 loss-of-office payment formed part of a departure publicly described as retirement.