A TOWN hall 'rich list' has revealed 15 Warrington Borough Council (WBC) employees received more than £100,000 in 2015-16.

The TaxPayers' Alliance (TPA) has published its list of local authority workers across the country whose total annual remuneration exceeded £100,000.

The 'town hall rich list' covers the 2015-16 financial year, the most recent full year for which data is available.

There were at least 2,314 members of staff in receipt of payments totalling more than £100,000 – 89 more than the previous year.

A total of 539 received in excess of £150,000 – 53 more than in 2014-15.

The council with the most employees, who received remuneration in excess of £100,000, was Southwark, with 44.

In the north west it was Lancashire County Council, with 32.

On the list made up of the 68 councils, with at least 10 employees receiving more than £100,000, WBC came 26th.

In 2015-16 it had 15 employees in receipt of £100,000 or more and 13 in 2014-15.

TPA chief executive John O'Connell criticised the pay packages being handed out by authorities across the country.

He said: "The average council tax bill has gone up by more than £900 over the last 20 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 the number of people on six-figure deals actually going up since last year.

"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."

WBC said since 2011 it has 'significantly reduced' its 'senior and middle management cost' and saved around £500,000.

A spokesman added: "The recent management review has further reduced the size of the senior team including not replacing the post of deputy chief executive and saving a further £300,000.

"We are the only local authority in the north west which has a part-time chief executive post.

"The TPA figures include 'on costs', which explain why the figures appear to show more numbers across the auditory threshold they have established."

Total remuneration includes salary, benefits in kind, expenses, bonuses, redundancy payments and employers' pension contributions.