The chief executive of Gloucestershire County Council received the biggest remuneration package of any local authority employee in the South West in 2015-16.

Peter Bungard (pictured) took home £338,445 according to the latest Town Hall Rich List published by the Taxpayers' Allowance.

However Gloucestershire County Council defended the payment, pointing out that it had been inflated by a one-off pension payment.

Mr Bungard's actual salary in 2015-16 was £142,424. This is compared to £161,235 for 14/15, due to a reduction in his working week to four days. Mr Bungard's salary for 2016/17 is lower still at £131,036.

In its report the Taxpayers' Allowance said at least 2,314 council employees nationally received remuneration of £100,000 in 2015-16.

John O'Connell, chief executive of the Taxpayers' Allowance, said: "The average council tax bill has gone up by more than £900 over the last 20 years and spending has gone through the roof.

"Disappointingly, many local authorities are now responding to financial reality through further tax rises and reducing services rather than scaling back top pay.

"Despite many in the public sector facing a much-needed pay freeze to help bring the public finances under control, many town hall bosses are continuing to pocket huge remuneration packages, with the number of people on six figure deals actually going up since last year.

"There are talented people in the public sector who are trying to deliver more for less, but the sheer scale of these packages raise serious questions about efficiency and priorities."

The council employee with the largest total remuneration package in the UK in 2015-2016 is the chief executive of Sunderland Council, Dave Smith, at £625,570 (including pay-off of £185,470 and pension contributions of £331,414).

Jo Walker, director of finance at Gloucestershire County Council, told Punchline today: "The chief executive's salary for 15/16 was £142,424. This is compared to £161,235 for 14/15 due to a reduction in the working week, which saves the council money. The salary for 16/17 is lower still at £131,036.

"The Taxpayers Alliance is including a one-off payment to the local government pension scheme to cover pension costs as a result of the change. By doing so, the council saves a further £61,627 each year including pensions and national insurance costs.

"The costs for the other two posts include redundancy payments as part of our reduction in senior managers."

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