THERE are understandable sensitivities surrounding levels of pay among the most senior officers working for councils.

Figures released today by the Taxpayers’ Alliance, showing how many council officers are paid more than £100,000, are clearly in the public interest because it is public money which is involved.

But let’s start by applying some perspective. Councils are major organisations, with huge responsibilities and employing lots of people.

High-calibre managers are needed and that cannot come cheaply.

In the case of the North-East’s biggest local authority – Durham County Council – the Taxpayers’ Alliance says 22 staff were paid more than £100,000.

However, that includes redundancy payments as part of the council reducing management costs by 30 per cent. Progress is, therefore, being made.

Having said all of that, the bottom line is that council taxpayers will still be aghast that, at a time of prolonged austerity, those at the top of the local authority pyramid are earning more than a quarter of a million pounds a year.

Across the country, 42 council officers were paid more than £250,000, with the highest earner in the North- East being Sunderland chief executive Dave Smith at £240,445.

These are extraordinary sums which are bound to attract concern at a time when so many services are being cut.