I was a bit taken aback today when someone rang me to tell me that Mark Boden the chief executive of Kennet District Council has been given the post of director of economic development at the new supercouncil for Wiltshire when it comes into force next April.

Kennet was the loudest voice among the vehement protesters against the creation of the authority, even taking part (at taxpayers' expense) in a legal challenge to stop it.

The council also organised a protest march of staff through Devizes and devoted hours of officer time to penning stinging press releases about the folly of the authority and how it would be a waste of public funds.

It also made grave warnings about how this new council would be responsible for the closure of leisure centres, higher council tax bills and probably increased global warming.

Now, I know the chief executive of a district council is just a humble public servant there to do the biddings of the elected members and of course all Kennet's kicking and screaming was made by the politicians.

But I do find it hard to believe the chief executive was sitting silently by during all of this kerfuffle. Still, that's how it must have been or Mr Boden surely wouldn't have applied for the post.

I understand that in fact he was the only applicant, given that TUPE regulations governing takeovers, mergers and acquisitions stated that senior posts had to be first offered to similar ranks in the district councils.

I think Mr Boden will have his work cut out winning over sections of the business world. I heard some dark mutterings from people today that during his time at Kennet the economic development unit was closed down and that he has had a less than rosy relationship with some of the movers and shakers in the chambers of commerce.

We will try and ask him about it but I don't think he has spoken to us ever since we published his salary...