PRESSURE from town hall chiefs across the country including the new leader of Worcestershire County Council has led to the chairman of the Local Government Association taking a £200,000 pay cut.

Coun Adrian Hardman, who only became leader last week following the resignation of Dr George Lord over claims of inappropriate sexual behaviour, was one of several signatories to a letter published in The Times on Tuesday which slammed the LGA’s decision to award chief executive John Ransford a £70,000 pay rise out of the public purse.

In the letter, also signed by Gloucestershire County Council leader, Mark Hawthorne, Coun Hardman said it was “simply not acceptable in the current climate when town halls up and down the country are having to make tough decisions on cuts as funding shrinks”.

However, in a swift U-turn following widespread coverage of the proposals, the LGA announced Mr Ransford had agreed to a £200,000 pay cut.

Mr Ransford’s remuneration for 2009/10 was £302,840 - double the salary of Prime Minister David Cameron - but the LGA said that his salary will be cut to ‘less than £100,000.‘ Coun Hardman, who represents the county council’s Bredon ward, said he was pleased with the speed of the LGA’s about-turn. “It is important that council leaders are seen to be having input into this as councils are extremely affected by it.

“The LGA reacted swiftly and I was very pleased to see that as I felt quite strongly about it.”

Baroness Eaton, chairman of the LGA, said: “The leadership of the LGA has every confidence in John Ransford in his role as chief executive.”

l A bid to cut Worcestershire County Councillors’ allowances to show “solidarity” with council staff has been defeated.

Liz Tucker, Liberal Democrats leader and Pershore councillor, tabled a motion which would have reduced allowances by a tenth for all councillors. The motion was defeated 41-9.