SOUTHAMPTON City Council's six top directors have all smashed through the £100,000 pay barrier for the first time.

Figures reveal their pay packages increased by up to 7.7 per cent at the end of last year - more than triple the Government's target for public sector wage inflation. The rises were condemned by unions as excessive.

Three more city council executive directors joined an annual Town Hall Rich List complied by the TaxPayers' Alliance, a low tax pressure group.

City council chief executive Brad Roynon received a total of £149,534, a rise of 6.4 per cent, while executive director of social services John Beer received £115,139, a 7.7 per cent rise.

Barry Olson, deputy secretary of Southampton's Unison branch, said: "This will cause real anger among the membership when they compare what they received last year and what they've been offered for this year. It speaks for itself."

Council workers this month received a 2.2 per cent pay offer from local government employers.

The TaxPayers' Alliance made Freedom of Information Act requests to find out who earned more than £100,000 in 2006/7. The remuneration figures include salary, bonuses, allowances and benefits-in-kind.

Hampshire County Council again refused to say exactly how much its top managers earned.

Last year it claimed it would expose them to ridicule and "unpleasant and distressing" comment. It also argued it would invade their privacy and interfere with their human rights.

County legal chiefs again insisted they could withhold the information because it was "personal" and would be "unfair" to release.

Matthew Elliot, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "Taxpayers have a right to know how much senior town hall officials are being paid because only then can we judge whether they deserve their remuneration. Families and pensioners are struggling with the demands of yet another council tax rise, and councils owe it to them to cut back on executive pay hikes."

Hampshire County Council has only confirmed what pay bracket its top earners are in through its statement of accounts.

Latest figures for 2006/7 show its chief executive, then Peter Robertson, was one of a handful in the country to earn more than £200,000 a year - more than the Prime Minister who gets £189,000.

A spokesman for Southampton City Council was unable to comment on the latest pay rises. Mr Roynon was also unavailable for comment.

The council has previously pointed out that its top managers were appropriately remunerated for their important roles and could demand much higher wages in the private sector.

What they are paid:

  • Brad Roynon, chief executive: £149,534
  • John Beer, executive director of social service: £115,139
  • Carolyn Williamson, executive director of resources: £113,028
  • Lorraine Brown, executive director of environment: £106,448
  • Nick Murphy, executive director of neighbourhoods: £104,973
  • Clive Webster, executive director of children's services and learning: £104,171