THE NORTH-EAST'S biggest council, facing cuts of more than £250m, is reducing its chief executive salary by £15,000 a year.

With George Garlick due to retire from Durham County Council in January, the Labour-led authority has decided to cut the annual pay of its top officer from around £200,000 to £185,000.

Additionally, the council is looking to promote someone from within – initially advertising the post internally.

Liberal Democrat councillor Mark Wilkes said it was “absolutely appalling” the job was not being advertised externally.

“Regardless of the high calibre of officers within the council, this sends the wrong message.

“For a job paying £185,000 County Durham deserves the best person for the job. If existing officers are good enough they have nothing to fear from an open process,” he said.

Kim Jobson, the council’s head of human resources and organisation development, said it was policy to look internally for all posts and only advertise externally if the right candidate could not be found within the council.

“Regarding the reduction in salary – again this has already been openly discussed and reported in the media – we are operating in tough economic times and this decision simply reflects that environment,” Ms Jobson added.

The changes were agreed by a cross-party committee and final decisions on the appointment and salary will be taken by a full council meeting.

Mr Garlick, 59, has been the council’s chief executive since September 2008, having previously run Stockton Borough Council.

Durham County Council has cut management costs significantly since austerity began, including trimming its senior officer team from seven to six with the creation of a “super” department of adult and children’s services in 2012, saving £175,000.

However, opposition groups have called for further savings – slashing the top team to as few as three.

Assistant chief executive Lorraine O’Donnell and Terry Collins, the director of neighbourhood services, are said to be the leading internal candidates for the top job.

The vacancy will be advertised during August. If a suitable internal candidate is found, an appointment is expected in October. If the council has to look externally, this could be delayed until November or December.