NEARLY £1.4 million in compensation was paid out to people working for Poole council last year, it has been revealed.

Borough of Poole paid £1,370,238.70 to employees or people contracted to work for the council, a huge increase on previous years.

But the council has refused to give details about the payments despite requests from the Daily Echo.

In 2014 the figure was just £9,038 with figures of £29,941 in 2013, £53,515 in 2012, £43,511 in 2011 and just £3,383 in 2010.

The amounts were revealed following a request under the Freedom of Information Act.

When asked for more details, a spokesman for the council said individuals could be identified if more was revealed, making it exempt from the Act.

But the decision to refuse to reveal any more information has been slammed by the TaxPayers' Alliance who said Poole residents are entitled to know.

John O'Connell, Chief Executive, said: "Compensation culture costs taxpayers an enormous amount of their hard earned cash and every penny spent on settlements is a penny that can’t be spent on delivering services.

"It’s extremely worrying that the compensation bill has risen so sharply and even more so that Poole refuses to explain why this is the case.

"Some payments may be justified but Poole council needs to bring costs down to deliver value for money and, just as importantly, they must explain how they spent over 1,000 families' council tax."

Now Poole councillor Philip Eades has taken up the case and has asked for more details.

He said: "I am most surprised that the borough has been unwilling to disclose details of the compensation payments made – this is council taxpayers' money and the public deserve a full explanation. I have made enquiries of the council’s finance department to obtain this information."