The wage bill for Cheshire West's top staff rocketed by more than £740,000 last year, with the number of senior officers earning an annual wage of £100,000 or more increasing from 11 to 18.

Figures released by pressure group the Taxpayers Alliance found that in the financial year 2021-22, top earners in the £100,000 or more bracket pulled in a combined £2,028,763 - compared to £1,288,223 a year before.

According to the report, the borough’s outgoing chief executive Andrew Lewis earned £162,607, while two deputy chief executives pulled in between £137,675 and £137,827. The other wages ranged from £131,254 for the chief operating officer, to £102,500 at the bottom end of the scale for two roles which were not specified.

This year’s annual report - dubbed the Town Hall Rich List - found the number of officials nationally receiving more than £100,000 was 2,759, with 721 picking up more than £150,000.

The North West council with the most employees receiving in excess of £100,000 was Manchester, with 23. The biggest financial package in the region was £250,727 - which went to Manchester’s chief executive.

Unlike councillors, who represent political parties and are elected by borough residents, officers are non-political and are hired and appointed to specific roles in councils - in the same way they would be hired by a company or public sector body. Top officers have responsibility for things such as schools and social care, public health, waste, personnel and planning matters among others.

John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “Taxpayers facing record council tax rises want to be sure they are getting value for money from their local authority leadership.

"Many authorities continue with extremely generous pay and perks, including bonuses and golden goodbyes, while local people are facing a financial squeeze. Residents can use these figures to hold their local town hall bosses to account.”

A spokesman for Cheshire West and Chester Council said the authority was ‘fully transparent’ about its finances and that a breakdown of senior manager salaries and responsibility was published annually on its website.

They added the increase in officers paid more than £100,000 largely related to existing officers who were paid just below £100,000 the previous year, who had seen their salaries uplifted by the national pay settlement for local government, and 'annual progression through established salary scales'.

He said: “As the Local Government Association has said: ‘Councils are large, complex organisations with sizeable 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’.”