The leader of the Labour group on Maidstone council has criticised the Conservative administration of the borough for inconsistency.

He said: "Earlier in the year, when councillors were told about the pressures on the council budget, we were advised that no stone should be left unturned as we searched to find budget savings."

He said: "Since then the Conservative group has approved a massive shake-up of the way the council is governed, with a return to cabinet system next year.

"It also proposed a return to four-yearly elections instead of elections by thirds, using the argument that it would save money.

"But it has declined to look at officers' cost and the way the council is run."

Speaking at a meeting of the policy and resources committee during a debate on the council's proposals for a recovery and renewal action plan for the town following Covid, Cllr Harper said: "We are looking at considerable projects on how to take the council forward in terms of our recovery from Covid and some references have been made to the medium term financial strategy which we will be embarking on fairly soon."

"It is the view of the Labour group that consideration should be given to reviewing our three most senior directors at the council who when added together have a remuneration of close to half a million pounds, when the council's net budget is £19m.

Cllr Harper said: "We're asking that we do a review just to see if there are any alternative executive models which could potentially deliver the same current services but with reduced cost.

"At a time of high inflation and cost pressures on us, the council should not need ..."

At which point council leader Cllr David Burton, who was chairing the committee, shut him down, saying: "Cllr Harper, I think we are going way off the agenda item here. That's the territory of the budget-making rounds that are ahead of us, but that's way outside this meeting."

However Alison Broom, the council's chief executive since 2010 who was in the meeting, offered to discuss the issues privately with Cllr Harper "in a more appropriate forum."

The council does not reveal the exact salaries of its employees, but does publish the grade bands for the various positions.

Chief executive Alison Broom is in a grade band of £150,00 to £155,000pa. William Cornall, the director of regeneration and place, and Mark Green, the director finance and business improvement, are both in the pay scale of £105,000 to £110,000 per annum.

Cllr Harper said after the meeting: "For every £50 collected in Council Tax, £1 goes to their salaries."

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