Kingston Council's chief has earned nearly £170,000 a whopping 12 per cent pay increase on last year.

Bruce McDonald's pay increase is six times higher than the two per cent offered to council staff in March.

Statements from the council's accounts for the last financial year show there are now five officers earning more than £120,000 compared to only one in the previous year.

Labour Councillor Steve Mama believes salaries should be reduced to avoid cuts important council services, such as the daycare centre Hobkirk House in New Malden which was closed last September to save £300,000.

Calling Kingston Council's administration "bloated, complacent and inefficient", Coun Mama said: "I cannot understand why we now employ 134 officers whose annual pay exceeds £50,000 as against 126 in the previous financial year.

"At a time when day centres and public facilities including public convenience were closing down to save money, the council is increasing the highly paid chiefs."

The council's statement of account for 2006/7 shows that there are now 71 employees earning between £50,000 and £60,000 and 14 on between £80,000 and £90,000.

Leader of the Council, Derek Osbourne, believes that the council needs highly-paid officers to perform well.

We do not have as many people on high salaries as other councils. The national pay rates have gone up so salaries have gone up and if we want top quality officers then we have to pay," he said.

"We are in competition with other councils that can afford to pay more than us. We actually did take out a £120,000 job last year and in this year's budget, there will be the retirement of at least one of the people over £150,000 who will not be replaced."