Kent County Council had 29 senior staff on its books earning more than £100,000 in 2019-20 according to an annual survey conducted by the campaign group the Taxpayers’ Alliance.

The study showed there were 18 employees earning above £100,000 - three fewer than the previous year - at County Hall.

The authority’s top earner was David Cockburn, corporate director of strategic services, who earned £204,208 salary but whose total remuneration package came in at £255,652 once his pension contribution of £44,154 and other expenses were added.

Second highest earner was the authority’s children’s services director Matt Dunkerly, whose salary was £194,560 but whose total remuneration including his pension contribution of £40,858 took his earnings to £235,418.

Two further senior officers are listed in the survey as earning £192,500 but they are not identified.

The council’s out-going corporate director for growth, environment and transport Barbara Cooper was paid a salary of £164,278 but whose total remuneration was £198,776.

Andrew Scott-Clark, who has, as director of public health, become a familiar figure on TV in his role co-ordinating the response to the Covid, received a salary of £115,356.

In Medway, the survey shows 10 senior officers earned above £150,000, with a salary of £161,650 paid to the chief executive Neil Davies. His total remuneration, including expenses claims of £8,781 and pension of £29,625, amounted to £199,566.

Richard Hicks, director of regeneration, culture and environment and deputy chief executive, was the next highest earner, with a salary of 119,594 and a total pay package of £149,489.

According to the alliance, Kent is the 8th highest paying local authority in the UK, the same as it was in the previous year’s survey.

Nearby Essex county council had the highest number of staff earning above £100,000, with 35 employees receiving more than the hefty sum.

The alliance said overall, at least 2,802 people employed by local authorities in 2019-20 received more than £100,000 in total remuneration, an increase of 135 on 2018-19. Some 693 received over £150,000, 26 more than the previous year.

KCC has been approached for comment.

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