WEYMOUTH councillor David Gray has been given a curt response to his question about whether the pay packages for senior officers, many over £100,000, are 'fit for purpose'.

In his question to the council meeting on Thursday evening the Weymouth councillor reminded colleagues that only 37per cent of residents in a survey last winter said the council was “value for money.”

Council leader Cllr Spencer Flower says the Weymouth councillor had conflated two issues, not directly connected, reminding Cllr Gray that he had voted for the annual pay policy statement and budget.

“The budget was approved following an unprecedented 22 hours of member engagement, briefing, scrutiny and discussion. At no point during these discussions was the issue of the cost of, or structure of, the senior management raised by you or your group, so I am surprised that 14 days into the new financial year that this is being raised at full Council now – maybe a bit of opportunistic politicking being played at the expense of hard working officers – of which I am not a fan – indeed I see that the local Liberal Democrats have taken out a paid for Facebook advert that reproduces the local newspaper article on senior salaries and suggests “now we know the reason for high council tax and car parking charges”.

“I have to say I wonder if the Lib Dems were actually taking part in the same budget process as I was, to show such a lack of understanding of our budget and poor personal judgement in placing such a comment?”

The council leader said that the reason for the increased council tax included additional money into Adult Social Care of £12.5M; Children’s Services £2.7M; Housing £0.75M and Place Services of £6.8M.

“Need I remind members that we brought together six former councils into one just over three years ago – with the aim being to protect services, and we have done that. It has meant reducing expenditure on senior management (£10 million saved each and every year since) to reinvest into front line services to protect the vulnerable in our society, the very youngest and the oldest and those who just need a helping hand.  Clearly we have more to do so that people understand the services that we provide in order that they can make better value judgements – but this is something Councillors as Community Leaders can do – not just chuck rocks in my opinion at the officers who work under our collective political leadership.”

Cllr Spencer added: “Council Tax is just that, a tax, and is not a payment for services rendered. However, we deliver over 450 different services, which many people take for granted on a daily basis from the waste and recycling service that is visible, to the highways and footpaths, we drive, walk and cycle on, the environmental health teams that ensure if you eat out the food is prepared safely, the trading standards teams to protect you from scams and poor standards, the planning and building control teams, the countryside management and stewardship, the housing team, our revenues and benefits team supporting those in need and of course our adult social care and children’s services team, supporting, protecting, caring and safeguarding our most vulnerable. Much of this work might only be visible to those in receipt of it – but that does not mean we don’t need to do it, and it has to be paid for.”

He said that some senior posts had been deleted including, recently, the posts of Corporate Director of HR and the head of the chief executive office.

He said senior pay was set using national benchmarks and agreed at full council with a 1.5% per cent uplift this year, compared to 1.75% for other staff.

“This is a large and complex multi-million-pound business and needs good leadership, both political and managerial. I believe we have that and am disappointed in any politicians who seek to take aim at officers rather than looking at the decisions we rightly make as politicians elected to represent our communities on Dorset Council. “