AS Forest of Dean District Council boss Tim Perrin took early retirement and began to clear his drawers this week, Tory leader Marion Winship said that to achieve efficiency the party broom would sweep in every nook and cranny at Coleford HQ.

The departure of the highly paid chief executive was agreed last week and announced on the council's website. Mr Perrin requested early retirement and will quit on March 31.

Cllr Winship said Mr Perrin had been "extremely honourable". Contrary to rumour there was no huge payout.

She said Mr Perrin had overseen tremendous changes and had overhauled and streamlined the management structure achieving a visible improvement in services.

In an exclusive interview with the Review Cllr Winship touched on a raft of measures her party was introducing to "create a most effective and accountable" council.

And in a broadside to critics she admonished those who had chosen to join the Independents while at the same time urging councillors from other parties to work with her to achieve success.

Like it or lump it, she said, the cabinet system – a Labour government introduction – was here to stay. She believed it resulted in better and more accountable decision-making.

Cllr Winship said she believed councillors had ample opportunity to influence policy but it was up to them as individuals to decide how much commitment they could give.

And as far as Tory quitters were concerned she asked how acceptable they were to those who had voted for them.

"We were elected by an overwhelming number of people many of whom voted for our vision for the future of the Forest. Should we have an election when a councillor elected with the support of one political party wishes to change to a different group?" she asked.

Cllr Winship said progress being made by the council included some job losses and she predicted a further 25 to 30 within the next year.

The budget had been aligned to corporate priorities for the next two years but there was a warning for the future.

Cllr Winship said that in addition to employee salaries council tax payers had to pick up a bill for 35 per cent extra for the pension pot. "Without government help this figure may well be unsustainable and eventually lead to the end of local government," she said.

Meanwhile a new chief executive is to be recruited.

•'Getting the ship back on course' page 7.

•Meeting to discuss cuts page 16.

•Cabinet member slams defectors page 16.