TOP council bosses have been challenged to defend their wages as the contents of their pay packets are made public.

Following the furore over councillors' and MPs' allowances, the spotlight has fallen council chief executives.

Figures compiled by the TaxPayers' Alliance show the wages and benefits of eight local council officers - four chief executives, a deputy chief executive and three directors - add up to almost £1million a year.

David Jenkins, chief executive of Dorset County Council, is the highest paid council officer in the county, earning £158,096 in 2006/07.

His deputy, Elaine Taylor, earned £119,773, director Steve Pitt £110,976, director Miles Butler £114,419 and director Stephen Prewitt £110,749.

At Bournemouth, Poole and New Forest councils, only the chief executives earn more than £100,000 a year. Bournemouth's chief executive, Pam Donnellan, saw her salary rise by 11.7 per cent to £121,205 in 2006/07 and Poole's chief executive, John McBride, enjoyed an increase of 5.3 per cent to £112,242.

The only chief executive not to receive an above-inflation pay rise was Dave Yates, the head of New Forest council, whose salary dropped by 8.8 per cent to £115,487.

No one at Christchurch, East Dorset, North Dorset or Purbeck councils earned £100,000 in 2006/07.

David Clutterbuck, chair of East Cliff and Town Centre Residents'association and a former Bournemouth councillor, said: "You have to remember it's not just high salaries we're talking about but pensions as well. When I was on the council, we often put taxpayers' money into the pension fund to top it up. A colossal amount of council tax is spent on salaries and pensions."

Ken Pottle, chairman of Southern Poole Chairmen's Liaison Group, said: "Officers' pay should reflect their sucess in the job."

Angus Campbell, leader of Dorset County Council, said a management restructure in 2006/07 reduced the number of bosses and saved £500,000 a year. He said salaries were decided by members, looking at national guidance and local salaries. and Dorset's chief executive salary was below the average paid by other county councils.

He said: "We pay the necessary level to attract and retain suitable candidates in a very competitive market.

Colin Hague, head of personnel and training at the Poole council, said: "The people who earn these salaries are responsible for ensuring millions of pounds of taxpayers' money is spent wisely."