A TORY MP says officers at the Conservative-run Essex County Council should take a pay cut.

Brooks Newmark, MP for Braintree and Halstead, says the top brass at County Hall should follow Government ministers in shaving five per cent off their pay packets.

Mr Newmark was responding to the news not a single penny of the £188million savings Essex County Council has made in the past four years has come from the offices of the chief executive or cabinet members.

Mr Newmark said: “Our view is everybody should be feeling the pinch equally and cuts should be across the board.

“If it is true no savings have been made in the chief executive or cabinet members offices, it’s wrong. It’s important leadership starts at the top and an example should be set by officers.

“Our ministers are going to see a five per cent pay cut. I would hope Essex County Council are doing the same.”

Joanna Killian, Essex County Council’s chief executive, earns £230,000 a year.

She has overseen £21million in cuts from the schools, children and families department since 2008 and more than £46million slashed from the adult social care and adults, health and community wellbeing departments since 2006.

Essex County Council was asked if Miss Killian would be taking a pay cut, but didn’t respond.

Leader Peter Martin also dodged the question.

He said: “Essex County Council is a £2.22billion operation, serving our 1.6 million residents every day.

“The chief executive is overseeing the largest value for money programme of any council in the history of local government, saving some £300million by 2012/13, which equates to a third of our annual net budget.

“We have delivered £190million savings over the last four years.

“Essex County Council is working hard to drive cost out of the organisation and maintain frontline services.

“We carry out a spending review every year, and are currently planning our finances and identifying savings for the coming years, ensuring we concentrate on the needs of the people of Essex.”