Sixteen of Gloucestershire’s senior public servants received pay packages worth more than £100,000 last year, according to a new report.

Gloucestershire County Council topped the Taxpayers’ Alliance Town Hall Rich List, with interim director of children’s services Alison Williams getting a payment of £181,853 before leaving her position in 2018.

Stroud and the Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service came second and third respectively in Gloucestershire’s highest remunerated bosses in 2017/18.

The county’s local authorities have defended the packages, saying it’s important to “have the right people with the right skills”.

The annual list shows that half of the best-paid public servants worked for Gloucestershire County Council, although most have now left the authority.

Cotswold councils has no staff earning above the £100,000 threshold in wages, pension contributions and bonuses.

In salary alone Ms Williams was still the highest paid in the 2017/18 period, pocketing £148,500.

Gloucestershire County Council’s permanent director of children’s services, Chris Spencer, who replaced Ms Williams and isn’t included in the data earns £125,013 and a £15,000 supplement payment, the authority said.

The Gloucestershire council workers earning the most in wages, pension contributions combined.

  • Alison Williams (now left): Gloucestershire County Council interim director: children’s services – £181,853.
  • David Hagg (now left): Stroud District Council chief executive – £158,684
  • Stewart Edgar (now left): Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service chief fire officer and operations director – £149,443
  • Margaret Wilcox: Gloucestershire County Council director: commissioning (adults) – £145,113
  • Jo Walker (now left): Gloucestershire County Council director: strategic finance – £145,113
  • Nigel Riglar (now left): Gloucestershire County Council commissioning director: communities and infrastructure – £139,711
  • Peter Bungard: Gloucestershire County Council chief executive – £132,339
  • Sarah Scott: Gloucestershire County Council director of public health – £121,930
  • Jane Burns: Gloucestershire County Council director: strategy & challenge and monitoring officer – £118,198
  • Tina Reid: Gloucestershire County Council operations director: adult services & business development – £118,122

The figures are far lower than what some other local authorities in the UK pay their senior staff.

Slough Borough Council paid their interim chief executive Robert Parkin £595,077 before he left his role in December 2017.

A total of 28 council employees received deals higher than £250,000 in 2017/18, the data said.

The report also showed 2,454 council employees had pay packages higher than £100,000 in 2017-18 and 608 council employees earned more than £150,000.

Chief executive of the Taxpayers Alliance, John O’Connell, said it showed “staggering payouts” were being made at a time when council tax was still rising.

A Gloucestershire County Council spokesman said: “We have responsibility for a wide range of services that support and protect some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.

"It is therefore important that we have the right people with the right skills and experience to lead this important work.

"For that reason, we must offer competitive salaries.

“As a result of the hard working, dedicated staff we employ across the council, we continue to deliver effective services for the people of Gloucestershire, whilst retaining one of the lowest council tax levels of any county council in the country.”

A Stroud District Council spokesman said: “The chief executive’s salary reflects the significant responsibilities of leading a council with an annual turnover of £69million.

"The salary is kept under review by the strategy & resources committee, and is subject to any national pay award.

"The fair pay and senior pay policy statement 2018 is available on the council’s website.”