DORSET’S highest-paid council chief executive has not taken up a challenge from a cabinet minister to take a pay cut.

David Jenkins, the senior officer at Dorset County Council, earns £164,306 a year, making him the highest paid chief executive of any shire authority.

Last year, local government secretary Eric Pickles challenged council chief executives earning more than £150,000 to take a five per cent pay cut.

And yesterday he announced proposals for councils to place any future six-figure appointments before meetings of all elected members. Cllr Angus Campbell, the leader of Dorset County Council, said Mr Jenkins’ salary would fall under a council-wide review of pay and benefits “from the chief executive down” later.

DCC has six officers earning more than £100,000. Cllr Campbell said their salaries had been frozen for the last two years.

But he rejected Mr Pickles’ latest proposal as impractical, describing the council’s cross-party staffing committee as “representative” and “transparent”.