ST HELENS Council’s next chief executive will earn £12,000 less than the role currently commands but will still take home £140,000 per year.

The starting salary for the job, which has been advertised on the council’s website, has been defended by senior politicians, who say it is the lowest pay for any authority chief in Merseyside.

Labour, which has control of St Helens Council, says the pay bracket needs to stay well into six figures to attract the calibre of candidate required for the senior civil servant position. The party cites comparisons with Halton (£182,000), Wigan (£169,000) and salaries paid out for heads of housing associations and NHS trusts as evidence for why pay needs to remain “competitive”.

Knowsley Council, meanwhile, has just reduced its top job from £192,000 to £160,000, although new boss Mike Harden will see his pay jump from £136,000 to £160,000 after being promoted from deputy. In a letter sent out as part of the application pack, Council Leader Barrie Grunewald set out the qualities being sought.

He writes: “Your role will be to work with me to help deliver our vision of building a modern, distinctive, economically prosperous borough.

“St Helens is one of six Local Authorities in the Liverpool City Region, working together with the Local Enterprise Partnership to bring economic prosperity to the City Region.

“You will also be expected to play a strong role within the Combined Authority, helping to promote economic growth within Liverpool City Region as a whole.

“Like many councils we have lots of challenges but we also have many great opportunities too.

“We need a chief executive who can build on our progress and help to drive the organisation forward. “We are looking for someone from the private or public sector with a proven track record of delivering economic growth and to continuing our strong commitment to good governance and partnership working.”

Among the key requirements for the top job are “innovative and inspiring leadership”, being “prepared to challenge the status quo” and the ability to deliver economic strategies. The new chief will replace Carole Hudson, who has held the reins at the council since the early 90s, next year.

It is understood the council has also enlisted a recruitment agency to seek out potential candidates. Pressure groups argue the salary remains excessive. John O’Connell, director of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said: “Those at the top can’t be exempt from the financial realities we’re all having to face. It’s inappropriate to be creating Town Hall tycoons at the same time as frontline staff are feeling the pinch of necessary savings.

“The council must rethink this and get costs under control.”