A COUNCIL leader has spoken out over a local authority pay row by criticising highly paid chief executives and referring to "people that run around after the highest salaries".

Councillor George Dunning, the leader of the ruling Labour party on Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, hit out at a previous administration in charge of the council responsible for increasing the pay given to its senior officers.

Coun Dunning spoke out after the publication of a Town Hall Rich List by the Taxpayers' Alliance which revealed that a record number of North-East council officers earned more than £100,000-a-year in 2006-7.

In Redcar, seven officers broke this limit, which Coun Dunning said was the result of decisions taken by a previous Liberal Democrat-Conservative-Independent coalition which took office in 2003, before losing control in May last year. He said: "My personal view on the fact that the coalition has left the new Labour administration with a legacy of the highest group of officers in the North-East on salaries over a £100,000 shows that the coalition knew nothing about the people of Redcar and Cleveland's feelings towards very high officers' salaries, hence they voted the coalition out.

"There are some local authority chiefs getting more than our Prime Minister and that cannot be correct.

"Having been a steel worker, working with people who work their socks off in difficult conditions to get a living wage, makes these salaries look like winning the Lottery.

"In Redcar and Cleveland, we want the best people for the job and who want to work for us, and not people that run around after the highest salaries."

Three of those included in the list have since left the council, including chief executive Colin Moore, who earned £151,282 in 2006-7.

Councillor Chris Abbott, leader of the Lib Dem group on the council, said the council officers in question had justified their increasing salaries.

He said: "The council has only paid peanuts in the past and could not attract the top staff and as a result it showed in its performance.

"By paying the going rate for the job it means you get the best people."

Referring to Mr Moore, he said: "As a chief executive, he has been brilliant. He saved the council £30m on the deal he got for us on equal pay."

Meanwhile, Durham County Council said three of its senior officers who were included on the list had also left, and not been replaced.

The authority confirmed that prior to his leaving, chief executive Mark Lloyd, who is due to take up a new role with Cambridgeshire County Council next month, had a salary range of between £151,000 and £190,000.

A spokesman said: "To attract the best and brightest people to deliver value for money it is essential to pay a suitable wage."

Your say on line

JEN, COUNTY DURHAM

It's an insult to the public, who struggle every day to make ends meet, because all of our money is being taken from us for tax, etc, yet why isn't our compulsory wage going up to compensate for this.

BRIAN, DARLINGTON

I think it's a disgrace that senior officers in Darlington are on more than £100,000 when they deprive pensioners of free early morning bus travel.

DAVID, NEWTON AYCLIFFE

It is really quite shocking to see the salaries offered to these chief executives when people are struggling to make ends meet and suffer below inflation pay rises.