County chief executive Andrea Hill will not be facing a salary cap - despite other authorities bringing down the costs of their top bosses.

SUFFOLK: County chief executive Andrea Hill will not be facing a salary cap - despite other authorities bringing down the costs of their top bosses.

It has emerged that Kent County Council, whose current chief earns �207,000 a year, will only be offering a salary of �185,000 to his successor when he takes over later this year.

Government quangos, including the Audit Commission, are also cutting the salary on offer when they appoint new chief executives.

There was an outcry when it emerged that Mrs Hill was being paid �218,000 when she was appointed chief executive of Suffolk in April 2008.

Her predecessor, Mike More, had earned �150,000 a year and his new job at Westminster City Council - one of the biggest councils in the country - pays �180,000 a year.

At the time of her appointment, council leader Jeremy Pembroke said it had been necessary to pay such a substantial salary to ensure that the council attracted the best possible chief executive.

Kent is the largest county council in the country, but when current chief Peter Gilroy leaves his position in May, his successor will earn �22,000 less.

The Conservatives have already said that any public sector salary above that of the Prime Minister - currently �197,000 a year - will have to be approved by the Treasury on appointment.

That would not affect Mrs Hill, as her appointment was made two years ago. But it could affect her if there is a shake-up of local government and she has to re-apply for a chief executive position. However, there are no plans for a review at present.

A spokeswoman for the county said: “There are no current plans to review the salary of the chief executive at Suffolk County Council.”