Croydon Council has been criticised for making payments totalling £640,420 to 19 employees through "settlement agreements" to end their employment.

Before receiving the payouts the employees had to sign confidentiality agreements, also known as "gagging orders," which prevent them "whistleblowing" about the council or speaking out about potential problems or revealing trade secrets.

Croydon Council revealed the information following a freedom of information (FOI) request, but declined to give a break-down of which departments it was paid in.

MP for Croydon South, Chris Philp said the public deserved to see a breakdown of who the money was paid to as well as the details of the agreements.

He said: "This shows Labour councillors are handing out public money like confetti while cutting front line public services.

"Labour promised to be the most open administration ever when they were elected four years ago - so why did the information have to be dragged out of them by a Freedom of Information request?"

The payouts were made between September 1, 2016, and August 31, 2017, according to the FOI.

Responding to Mr Philp's comments, a Croydon Council spokeswoman said: “Settlement agreements contain confidentiality clauses and are also covered by data protection legislation and therefore cannot be published on the council website.

"The council’s annual accounts which are published online, summarise exit costs incurred each financial year.”