THIS weekend, as thousands of hard-working Suffolk families face a weekend of belt-tightening, many are looking at events in Endeavour House, home of Suffolk County Council, in utter disbelief.

THIS weekend, as thousands of hard-working Suffolk families face a weekend of belt-tightening, many are looking at events in Endeavour House, home of Suffolk County Council, in utter disbelief.

Soaring food and fuel prices, gas and electric bills that continue to go through the roof and Suffolk council tax rises above the rate of inflation are just some of the real-world issues they face.

Pennies matter at home. But what's taxing and enraging many is the £££££s spending power of the Tory leaders of the council, the purse-holders of Suffolk people's hard-earned money.

Leading councillors from the ruling Conservative group were happy this week to ignore any thought of pay restraint to make Andrea Hill one of the highest-paid executives in the country.

As the Evening Star exclusively revealed, Mrs Hill was appointed to the post on a salary £70,000 more than that paid to predecessor Mike More.

News of Mrs Hill's appointment has caused shockwaves throughout the country.

Today we name the men and woman who have agreed to pay her an extra £70,000 on top of the existing chief executive's salary - a sum which could make a huge difference to front-line services.