LIBERAL Democrats in the Cotswolds are pressing for new measures to tighten up the district council's spending powers in the wake of its controversial decision to employ a magician to give motivational talks.

Councillor Paul Hodgkinson, leader of the Cotswold Lib Dems, wants the council to lower the threshold for payments that can be authorised by non-elected senior officers.

But Tory leaders have accused their opponents of trying to 'micro-manage' the council.

Magician Shay McConnon, who developed the programme 'An Even Better Place to Work', was hired at a cost of £19,000 to run motivational staff training courses at Cotswold District Council.

Chief executive David Neudegg used delegated powers to approve the payment to Mr McConnon's company without needing to refer the contract to councillors.

Because the payment fell just below the £20,000 threshold, the deal went through without any need to involve elected representatives.

Following the controversy that surrounded the appointment, Mr McConnon said he would refund his costs – if his programme did not get results.

In a letter to Mr Neudegg he said: "In fact, if Cotswold District Council does not save substantial sums as a result of the programme, then I will gladly return the £19,000."

Last month, the council said it did not expect to take him up on the offer.

Yesterday, Mr Hodgkinson said he had no intention of implying any direct criticism of individual officers.

He said: "We merely feel that the present Conservative administration has allowed matters to drift to the point where too much power is being given to non-elected staff who are making decisions on behalf of council taxpayers without any real supervision.

"This can result in fiascos like the magician affair where the rest of the country is laughing at the way this local authority is run."

Councillor Lynden Stowe, Conservative leader of the council, said: "I'm afraid it's a case of sour grapes as Councillor Hodgkinson is in the same line of business as Shay McConnon.

"It's not the job of councillors to micro-manage a council. It's our job to determine budgets, strategy and policy."

Mr Hodgkinson, who provides one-to-one coaching for chief executives and senior managers, said he worked predominantly in the private sector and had no interest in working for the council. "It would be totally unethical," he said.

On his website, Mr McConnon is described by one happy customer as the Billy Connolly of the business world.