BOLTON Council has been featured in a 'Town Hall Rich List' revealing the top earning council staff throughout the UK.

But the council has disputed the figures, which were published by the TaxPayers' Alliance this week.

The public spending pressure group said nine individuals at the council earned more than £100,000 per year, however Bolton Council says the number is actually four.

A council spokesperson said: “These figures appear to be several years out of date.

“The council operates a budget of more than £400m a year and runs hundreds of different services, so needs to employ highly qualified, skilled staff and pay them accordingly.

“However, as part of our savings, the number of senior staff we employ, has reduced. As part of our pay structure we employ four people above £100,000 per year, not the nine that is suggested.”

Tax Payers Alliance data included the salary of Margaret Asquith (£145,287), who left the council in early 2018.

Current chief executive Tony Oakman, one of the four people on more than £100,000, earns between £165,000 to £170,000.

The Tax Payers Alliance publishes its 'Town Hall Rich List' every year and John O’Connell, chief executive said: “The average council tax bill has gone up by more than £900 over the last twenty years and spending has gone through the roof.

“Disappointingly, many local authorities are now responding to financial reality through further tax rises and reducing services rather than scaling back top pay.

“Despite many in the public sector facing a much-needed pay freeze to help bring the public finances under control, many town hall bosses are continuing to pocket huge remuneration packages, with staggering pay-outs for those leaving their jobs.

“There are talented people in the public sector who are trying to deliver more for less, but the sheer scale of these packages raise serious questions about efficiency and priorities.”

A spokesman for the Local Government Association said: "Councils are large, complex organisations with sizable budgets and responsibility for more than 1,300 different statutory duties and responsibilities that make a huge difference to people’s lives.

"It is important that the right people with the right skills and experience are retained to deliver this important work.

"Senior pay is always decided by democratically elected councillors in an open and transparent way.”