A petition to cut the 'deeply offensive' salary of Essex County Council's chief exectuive has been launched by a member of the public.
According to the Essex Chronicle, retired book-keeper, Tony Seaman has kicked off an internet petition to decrease the £210,000-a-year salary earned by former chief executive Joanna Killian.
Mr Seaman told the local paper: ‘I'm getting increasingly worried about how much of our money is being pushed through to executives.
‘The Prime Minister earns around £145,000 per annum, so if his salary is determined as the amount justifiable to run the country, those who run bits of it should not earn more than him.’
Essex County Council leader, David Finch, said: ‘Joanna Killian has been an exemplary chief executive during a period when Essex County Council has proved itself to be an exemplar of effective, efficient administration.’
He claimed the council could take up to a year to find a replacement for Ms Killian, who announced in February that she was leaving to join consultants KPMG after nearly nine years.
Cllr Finch said: ‘’We think this is the biggest and the best job in local government. We are prepared to be patient in securing the right person, because this county deserves the very best leadership.’
