THE pay of Scottish Borders Council’s top executives has been revealed.

In total, the council’s six highest earning executives were paid more than half a million pounds, with the council’s chief executive Tracey Logan taking home £120,878 in 2017/18.

The local authority’s next highest paid employee, SB Cares’ managing director Philip Barr, was paid £106,906, while services director Rob Dickson received remuneration of £87,849.

Donna Manson, who was the service director for children and young people before moving to Highland Council to become a chief executive, was paid £87,849, and chief financial officer David Robertson was paid £87,140.

Finally, Martin Joyce, the service director of assets and infrastructure, was paid £84,825 for his services.

However, the chief executive and other directors agreed to a voluntary pay freeze in 2014 in order to help with council cutbacks.

The figures have been released by the TaxPayers’ Alliance, a right wing pressure group that campaigns for a low tax society, as part of its annual townhall rich list.

John O’Connell, the chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “The average council tax bill has gone up by more than £900 over the last twenty years and spending has gone through the roof.

“Disappointingly, many local authorities are now responding to financial reality through further tax rises and reducing services rather than scaling back top pay.

“Despite many in the public sector facing a much-needed pay freeze to help bring the public finances under control, many town hall bosses are continuing to pocket huge remuneration packages, with staggering pay-outs for those leaving their jobs.

“There are talented people in the public sector who are trying to deliver more for less, but the sheer scale of these packages raise serious questions about efficiency and priorities.”

A Scottish Borders Council spokesperson said: “Scottish Borders Council has reduced the number of officers paid salaries of over £100,000 in recent years, from four in 2011/12 to the current number of two.

“Salary levels at Scottish Borders Council are set by reference to national agreements and reflect the scale and responsibility associated with the management of a complex public sector organisation with gross annual turnover of £300m.

“The council is well aware of the challenging financial times we are faced with. This is why we have over several years made decisions to help protect our frontline services and our staff.”

The spokesperson added that Tracey Logan’s salary is lower than the majority of other local authority chief executives in Scotland, with 21 out of the 32 Scottish chief executives drawing a higher annual salary.