A CONTROVERSIAL salary proposed for the chief executive of a council only 40 miles away is double the wage paid to City of York Council's top executive.

David Atkinson, chief executive of the council, earns about £100,000 a year, the average for his position.

The wage is dwarfed by the possible pay packet for the new chief executive of Bradford City Council, who could pick up £200,000 a year after pay negotiations.

The wage would top Prime Minister Tony Blair's pay packet by about £25,000.

Bradford City Council has defended the size of the salary, saying the council had been advised to offer the money to attract the best applicants, including applications from the private as well as public sectors.

Rob Whitton, a lecturer in management studies at York St John College, who has experience of local government, says the salary can be justified.

Mr Whitton said: "Bradford is the fourth largest metropolitan district in the country. It recently missed out on a bid to be 2008 European Capital of Culture, which has significantly raised profile and momentum and they obviously want to keep that going.

"The council has been rated as well-managed, that is OK, but the people of Bradford will want better than well-managed."

Jeremy Walker, chief executive of North Yorkshire County Council, said he earned £106,000 a year.

He said: "What would be paid in Bradford is clearly a matter for Bradford. It is, however, likely to ratchet up pressure for higher rates as vacancies occur."

The Bradford boss's salary is also far higher than the £140,000 wage controversially approved for East Riding Council chief executive Darryl Stephenson last year.

Mr Stephenson's 34.5 per cent pay rise, which amounted to £36,000, prompted outrage and public demonstrations. Mr Stephenson defended the rise by saying he had not asked for it, and claimed it was low compared with managers with similar jobs in business. Elsewhere in the region, Mick Walsh, chief executive of Harrogate Borough Council, declined to reveal the size of his salary.

"It is well below the offer currently being made in Bradford," a council spokeswoman said.

A spokeswoman for Hambleton District Council declined to make any comment or reveal the chief executive's salary.

No one at Selby District Council was available for comment.

Updated: 08:45 Thursday, May 15, 2003