COST-CUTTING council bosses in Tendring have been praised by the Taxpayers’ Alliance for saving money by axeing senior posts.

The pressure group has hit out at councils across the country following an investigation into public sector “fat cats”.

But the Taxpayers’ Alliance said Tendring Council, where ten senior officers were paid more than £100,000 in 2010/11 due to huge redundancy payouts, was heading in the right direction.

Nowonly chief executive Ian Davidson earns more than £100,000.

Last year, he earned £139,551, including pension contributions.

The council is nowset for another costcutting restructure as part of an effort to save £4million over two years.

But staff have been reassured there would be no “wholesale redundancies”

as the council will also look to raise more money by making better use of its assets, including building beach huts.

Jonathan Isaby, chief executive of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said: “Tendring Council’s leaders are doing the right thing by their residents by cutting out unnecessary layers of management and top pay.

“Very significant savings will have to be made at the council over the coming years and residents would welcome further progress in this area so services can be protected and council tax kept low.”

As part of the restructure, department head June Clare, one of three remaining corporate directors, will voluntarily leave the council, saving it £100,000 a year.

It is understood there would be no large redundancy payments for senior staff leaving the authority.

The investigation also revealed that 61 staff at Essex County Council earned more than £100,000.

Mr Isaby added: “Local authorities that are providing more for less and delivering council tax cuts clearly have talented people at the helm, but taxpayers living in poorly performing areas will be furious at the scale of some of these massive pay awards.

“After more than a decade of reckless spending and council tax hikes, local politicians now have to make necessary savings and the pay and perks for the town hall elite have to come under the spotlight.

“We all deserve to know how our money is being spent, and taxpayers should have the right to decide if they are getting value for their money from public servants.”