Arts Council gives former chief executive Peter Hewitt £120K pay-off

The Arts Council has been criticised for giving its former chief executive a £128,655 payoff as he left the organisation. By Nicole Martin, Digital and Media Corresondent The money was given to Peter Hewitt at a time when the body charged with funding arts groups in England was slashing grants to dozens of arts organisations across the country. Jeremy Hunt, the shadow culture secretary, called on the council to explain its actions. He said: "The Arts Council must explain why it is signing contracts of this nature instead of directing money to grassroots arts organisations." Details of Mr Hewitt's pay-off in March at the end of his 10-year fixed contract emerged in the Arts Council's annual report. An Arts Council spokesman defended the pay-off, saying it was his "statutory entitlement". "We have a duty to abide by employment... [read full story]