NINE council officers in Worcestershire, including the boss of Redditch and Bromsgrove, are paid more than £100,000 per year according to figures released recently.

The survey of salaries for paid officers of local authorities was carried out by pressure group, the Taxpayers’ Alliance.

It shows Worcestershire County Council pays four staff more than £100,000.

The pressure group says that the chief executive at County Hall is paid £163,000, with three other staff also paid more than £100,000.

The director of economy and infrastructure earns £126,000, and the directors of public health, and children, families and communities both are paid a few thousand over £100,000.

Richard Taylor, interim head of human resources at County Hall said: “The council’s pay policy statement sets out our approach to pay for all employees, including chief officers, as required by Section 38 of the Localism Act 2011. We are committed to being open and transparent, publishing the pay ranges of our chief officer posts on the our website.”

Bromsgrove District and Redditch Borough councils share both a chief executive, Kevin Dicks, and a deputy chief executive, Sue Hanley.

They are paid £131,000 and £103,000 respectively.

Leader of Bromsgrove District Council councillor Geoff Denaro said: “When we decided to start sharing services between councils, 10 years ago, the first job to be shared was chief executive.

"Senior management quickly followed, and then the services themselves. Splitting those costs continues to give our residents great value for money, and the salaries we offer for all our jobs are fair reflections of the skills and qualifications the jobs demand.”

According to the Taxpayers Alliance Worcester City Council pays its managing director £100,000.

Wychavon District Council is listed as one of the highest payers among district councils, paying its managing director £125,000 – although the job also involves running Malvern Hills District Council.

Wyre Forest District Council’s chief executive is paid £109,000.

However, the national figures showed the county’s authorities neither pay the most in the West Midlands, nor pay the most staff more than £100,000.