A “TOWN Hall rich list” published this week claims that Bournemouth council has more high earners on at least £100,000 than neighbouring Poole or Dorset.

According to the Taxpayers’ Alliance, 17 members of staff at Bournemouth council received a salary and pension contributions worth £100,000 or more in 2011/12 – although Bournemouth council has disputed this, claiming they only had 8.

The council acknowledged the figure would be higher if schools staff were included but said it would still be nowhere near the 17 quoted by the Taxpayers’ Alliance.

Dorset County Council had eight members of staff receiving at least £100,000, and the Borough of Poole had five.

Alan Hyde, head of strategic HR at Bournemouth Borough Council, said: “The figures being quoted by the Taxpayers’ Alliance do not reflect the situation at Bournemouth Council and we do not know how they have reached their findings.

“Over the last two years the council has been through significant change and seen a decrease in staffing levels including a reduction in senior management numbers.

“This work is ongoing and there will be a further decrease in 2013/14 as part of the extensive transformation programme.”

The figures also show that Dorset council paid the highest individual salaries in 2011/12, with then chief executive David Jenkins earning a salary and pension package of £190,000. This was far higher than the £150,000 package received by former Bournemouth chief executive Pam Donnellan and the £147,296 earned by Poole chief executive John McBride.

Senior directors were also generally paid more than their Bournemouth and Poole equivalents.

A spokesman for Dorset County Council said: "These posts carry huge responsibility for providing essential service to residents in Dorset, and are responsible for large numbers of staff.

“We pay at the necessary level to attract and retain suitable candidates in a very competitive market.

“The salaries of our most senior officers are actually below the average for such posts in county councils across the country – and their pay scales have also been frozen for the past four years.”

According to the Taxpayers’ Alliance, Bournemouth, Christchurch and East Dorset councils all reduced their numbers of high earners in 2011/12 from 2010/11.

In Dorset, North Dorset, Poole and Purbeck the figure stayed the same.

Matthew Sinclair, chief executive of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said: “It is good news that the number of senior council staff making more than £100,000 a year is finally failing.

“Although that may only be because many authorities have finished paying eye-watering redundancy bills.”