RESEARCH from The TaxPayers' Alliance has found Hertfordshire County Council paid six figure salaries to six officers, including more than £200,000 to its chief executive.

Caroline Tapster received £251,190, including a salary of £203,427 and pension contributions worth £41,906.

Seven other officers, including the Chief Fire Officer, the director of environment and commercial services and the director of children, schools and families all receive basic pay worth more than £100,000.

Council representative Jo Brown said: “We have already taken significant steps to review and reduce senior management costs.

“Senior manager salaries have been frozen since April 2008. Since 2007 the senior management team has been reviewed and reduced, leading to savings in excess of £250,000 per annum.

“In addition, around £10million of savings are expected when the council further reviews its senior management as part of its current business transformation programme, Council for the Future.

“We are constantly checking the market and have to ensure that our salaries are in line in order to attract and retain the best possible people. If you take into consideration the size of the council, our budget and the number of residents we work for, when compared with other councils in the region the costs for our senior management are at the lower end of the scale.”

Meanwhile, the chief executive of Hertsmere Borough Council took home £184,000, including a basic salary of £143,000 in the last financial year.

The director of resources received £119,000 and the director of environment was paid £122,000 each, both with a salary of £94,000.

Council representative Catherine Feast said: "Salaries of senior staff such as chief executives reflect the responsibilities those types of role carry. They are leading roles within communities and as such carry salaries to attract the best candidates possible in what is a highly competitive market."