Doncaster council is to fork out �500,000 on bosses' pay rises

The move comes only days after hundreds of people marched on the council's headquarters to protest over officials' pay rises.

Adverts for the job, which will replace the chief executive post, appeared in the national press.

The council says the successful candidate will be expected to work closely with the elected mayor.

Taxpayers' money

Last month, the council agreed to award key officers inflation-busting pay rises of at least �20,000 a year.

It was reported at the time that the salary of the chief executive would increase from �103,000 to �140,000.

The post is now being advertised as a managing director with a salary of �115,000 to �145,000.

The pay of other executive directors is to rise to �105,000 from �83,000, while mayor Martin Winter will receive �62,000, up from �42,000.

The increases will cost the authority nearly �500,000 of taxpayers' money.

Staff 'poached'

The increases prompted accusations of fat cat pay rises from between 200 and 500 protesters who marched on the council's head offices last Friday.

Labour councillor David Hughes, from the Bentley Central ward, said: "These are pay rises for those at the top for hitting targets.

"But what about the rest of the Doncaster workforce for the delivery of these targets?"

However, the council defended the rises, saying they were comparable to those in neighbouring authorities and would help Doncaster attract high-quality senior officers.

Interim chief executive Roger Taylor said Doncaster was vulnerable to top staff being "poached" by other authorities.