NINE council officers in Worcestershire 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 over £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.”

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

However, the council says the figure is higher yet still less than other councils in the county.

A spokesman said: “Worcester City Council currently pays its managing director £105,000 and has not increased this rate for many years. We regard this amount to be at the lower end of what we would need to pay to attract appropriately talented and qualified candidates.

"It is also worth noting that this would be lowest rate being paid by any council in Worcestershire to its Head of Paid Service.”

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.

Councillor Linda Robinson, leader of Wychavon, said: “We have driven out savings at the top to ensure we get great value for money – as we have done at all levels. Even so, we still feel paying a fair and competitive salary to all our employees is necessary to ensure we get the right people providing high quality services to our communities.”

Bromsgrove and Redditch district councils share both a chief executive officer and a deputy chief executive. They are paid £131,000 and £103,000 respectively. 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.