by political editor Paul Francis

The former managing director at Kent County Council has an unpaid role with a national newspaper, it has emerged.

Katherine Kerswell left her job at County Hall at the end of the year in controversial circumstances and with a reported £450,000 pay-off.

Her post was officially scrapped in a shake-up designed, according to KCC, to save money.

She had been in post for just 18 months and her departure came amid rumours she had fallen out with the ruling Conservative administration at KCC.

Now less than a month later, it has emerged she is a member of the 11-strong editorial advisory board of an online local government network run by The Guardian.

The network is described as an outlet for local government professionals to share "comment, opinion, debate and best practice from the sector".

The Guardian’s online page says she "recently stepped down as group managing director".