A CAMPAIGN group has hit out over “generous” council staff pay – after it was revealed 12 Sedgemoor District Council workers earn £60,000 or more.

Figures disclosed by the council reveal eight workers earn £60,000, three earn £80,000 and chief executive Kerry Rickards is on £110,000.

Somerset County Council has also revealed 91 of its workers earn more than £50,000, while there are a further 61 employees at schools in Somerset earning £60,000 or more; their salaries follow a national framework with local tweaking by governors.

But the TaxPayers’ Alliance says that £60,000 is more than double the average national wage.

Campaign manager Charlotte Linacre said: ““It won’t seem fair to hard-pressed families on much lower salaries that they’ve been funding generous pay deals if they haven’t seen impressive results from the council.

“Town halls must be careful to be realistic about the salaries they can afford. They need to bring down the bill and ease the pressure on taxpayers.”

Sedgemoor District Council last month announced it had saved £1.4 million through rigorous cuts and frozen its council tax precept.

Somerset County Council said the salaries of its managers reflected their responsibilities and skills, while Sedgemoor District Council said the experience of its senior staff “makes sure the taxpayers’ money is spent in the most efficient way”.

Both authorities said they had reduced their numbers of senior managers in recent years. n HAVE your say on this story on-line, at bridgwatermercury.co.uk/news.