The full cost of replacing chief executive Ian Thomas could be much higher than a council report suggests.

Lewisham Council agreed at a full council meeting that executive director for resources and regeneration Janet Senior would fill the post while a replacement is found.

This came after all members of the public were kicked out of the meeting because some people were yelling and chanting “Ian Thomas”, “Egan out” and “vote them out.”

The “financial implications” of agreeing Ms Senior as interim chief executive are listed as the £185k salary of a chief executive, in a council report.

Any “honorarium” – money paid for services not normally part of someone’s job – and  “back-up costs” to help Ms Senior in her permanent job as executive director for resources and regeneration will come out of this, according to the report.

But this does not include other financial implications, Cllr Alan Hall explained at full council.

He said: “The financial implications merely state the banding of the chief executive’s salary.

“They do not include recruitment costs. They do not include other on-costs and they do not include any legal or out-of-court settlement costs.”

Mr Hall asked that the decision to not allow this information come to the council’s audit panel be reviewed.

“I would like it to be known to this council that I have requested this report be placed on the audit committee’s agenda and I have been advised that it is out of its term of reference.

“I would request officers and the interim chief executive or whoever has higher authority to review this matter,” he said.

Cllr Amanda de Ryk said she was “very happy to review it.”

Lewisham Council announced on October 29 that Mr Thomas was leaving the role, with the council “taking a new direction.”

Mr Thomas began as the council’s chief executive in March, after being appointed by a panel which included Mayor Damien Egan and members of his cabinet.

His departure has caused outrage in the community, with a petition calling for more information as to why he left close to 2,000 signatures.

His last day of service will be December 31.