Council tax payers are expecting increases

More than �450,000 in annual salaries for senior executives is set to be spent by a Greater Manchester council.

Oldham Council has released adverts for five top positions after its management was branded "weak" by the Audit Commission (AC).

Residents in the borough had already been told to expect big rises in council tax before the adverts were placed.

The AC report last November also detailed how the council had failed to promote good race relations in the town.

And council management sustained criticism for not appointing enough women or people from ethnic minorities in senior positions.

�100,000 salary

Successful applicants for the five senior jobs can now expect attractive remuneration packages.

The new Deputy Chief Executive will earn �100,000 a year and three Executive Directors will get �95,000 annually.

A new Assistant Chief Executive will pick up �70,000 a year.

The council said it needs to attract the best people possible to resolve the problems the AC highlighted.