Kent County Council has sought to dampen down mounting speculation that managing director Katherine Kerswell has been dismissed from post or put on gardening leave.

Ms Kerswell, who joined from Northamptonshire CC in July 2010 has been away from her desk for the past week and did not attend a reception to greet the Queen in Margate, according to local newspaper reports.

Yesterday rumours grew that council leader Paul Carter was seeking to follow the recent precedent set by Wiltshire Council by axing Ms Kerswell and assuming the managing director's role himself.

But a statement issued last night by the council praised Ms Kerswell for having been an ‘outstanding' managing director in a ‘very tough financial climate and against a background of severe budget cuts.'

‘She has done a great deal to relieve the financial burden on Kent council tax payers and has implemented Paul Carter and the cabinet's strategy for reshaping the council.'

‘Significant savings have been made possible through the continuing restructuring process and the new operational framework presided over by Katherine Kerswell and the corporate management team so far.'

‘We would like to make it clear that Katherine Kerswell is and remains the managing director of Kent County Council.  It is completely untrue to suggest that she has been dismissed or put on garden leave.'

Neither Katherine Kerswell nor the council will be making any further statement.