Bicester Town Council has refused to provide any information about a pay-off to its former town clerk.

Last month it was revealed that Anne Wilson had been given £30,000 – the equivalent of £1 from every resident.

At the time, councillors would only say she had gone “to pursue other challenges”.

Mrs Wilson, of Southwold, Bicester, now works as town clerk at Buckingham Town Council.

We submitted a Freedom of Information request to the council, based at Garth House, in a bid to find out more about the payment.

As a matter of public interest we asked for documents relating to the decision to pay the cheque, and whether any complaint was made by the town clerk or about her.

We also asked for a copy of any letter of resignation, dismissal or agreement signed by the parties.

But in a letter from Sue Mackrell, deputy town clerk, the town council said it would not release information.

The letter said: “The information you have applied for consists of personal information about a third party. As releasing this information to you would contravene the Data Protection Act 1998, the council considers that it is not required to supply this information as this is therefore exempt information under section 40 of the Freedom of Information Act.”

Tax Payers’ Alliance campaign manager Susie Squire said: “What we need is more transparency. Therefore taxpayers can decide if they get value for money.”

John Broad, Bicester member for CPRE, said: “There are a lot of niggling details that are irritating and that irritate the taxpayer when they say they are not going to tell you why they have done it.”

But MP Tony Baldry said: “It is a matter of public record, they put it on an agenda and there was no attempt to hide the fact.”