Times: Kent keeps its own counsel on pay

A council is refusing to name 16 officials who earn more than £100,000 because it fears that they will be abused by the public.

The Taxpayers’ Alliance, which wants public servants who earn more than £50,000 a year to be identified, is trying to use the Freedom of Information Act to force Kent County Council to name the staff.

The council said that its chief executive Peter Gilroy received “unwarranted personal comments” last year after it emerged that his salary of £229,999 made him England’s highest-paid local authority boss. Alex King, deputy leader of the Conservative-led authority, said that the council had “learnt from the experience”.

The Taxpayers’ Alliance said that several council chiefs earned more than Prime Minister Gordon Brown — who earns £188,849 — and taxpayers had a right to know who got what and why. The organisation has criticised Suffolk County Council for paying its new chief executive, Andrea Hill, a salary of £220,000 — £70,000 more than her predecessor.