Local people have been stunned by the news that the Tories running Mid Sussex District Council, have given the Chief Executive a massive £16,000 pay hike.

The news came as the council announced a potential budget shortfall of £1.4m for next year and suggested that they may have to start laying off staff.

Serena Tierney, Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesperson for Mid Sussex, said: “Since appointing him in 2004, the Tories have raised the Chief Executive’s basic salary by more than 50% to £138,000. On top of that he enjoys a generous benefits package.

“This latest increase simply cannot be justified at a time when hardworking ordinary council staff are being told that their jobs are under threat.”

What are the Tories cutting and when?

Graham Knight, Lib Dem leader on the District Council adds: “Clearly there’s a huge hole in the council’s budget and we want answers on how the Tories are going to plug that gap.”

One of the reasons for the deficit is the increase in car parking charges this year is emptying car parks and losing the Tory-run council vital revenue – as was forecast in our February 2009 FOCUS.

New figures show a big drop in the number of car parking tickets issued since the prices were hiked up – despite Lib Dem opposition warnings at the time that it was the wrong moment to be increasing charges. “It’s time that the Tories put their hands up and admitted that they’ve made a massive error of judgement on this issue.” says Burgess Hill councillor Heather Ross.