WIGAN'S ten Cabinet "super councillors" will be paid at least £17,774 each a year.

Extra cash will be given to Cllr Peter Smith who, as leader of the Cabinet, is handed special responsibility payments.

Cllr Smith - who is also a working Peer in Westminster - is will receive a total of £29,325 a year from the council.

The other nine members of the Cabinet - which includes Tyldesley East councillors Alan Stephenson (head of business), Brian Wilson (education), Brian Strett (health) and Tom Sherratt (community safety) - will be paid £17,774.

The total bill for this municipal year has gone up by 3.85 per cent in line with inflation.

While a top level media row is running in adjoining Bolton Council, Wigan Council's top decisions will continue to be made before the press and public and not behind closed doors.

Wigan Council leader Peter Smith says Wigan's "cabinet" will "continue to use the Part 1 and Part 2 agendas where items for discussion are open to the press and public, unless there is a legitimate reason to exclude."

In April, local residents were given an opportunity to find out how the Council is run, giving them a chance to quiz Cllr Smith on policy decisions.

More than 65 per cent of people said they wanted to see improvements in access to decision makers with 70pc feeling strongly that councillors spend time in their wards listening to people's concerns.

At the same time, 85 per cent wanted it made clear who lead the Borough and would take ultimate responsibility for the way it is run.