REDBRIDGE’S council leader insists top salaries for senior Town Hall officials are justified.

But the government has unveiled plans for more stringent checks to salaries which top �100,000, saying all councillors should vote in a public meeting and agree high-end pay packets.

Cllr Keith Prince said he had not made up his mind on the full impact of the proposals, but added that some council employees were worth more than �100,000.

He said: “The director of children’s services, for example, is held ultimately responsible for the welfare of young children – that is responsibility that should be rewarded.

“It is absolutely right that people are rewarded for hard work.”

Since April 2008, council chief executive Roger Hampson’s annual pay has been frozen at �181,542.

Five directors – including director of children’s services Pat Reynolds and director of finance and resources Geoff Pearce –earn between �133,209 and �123,192

Mr Hampson’s role includes balancing Redbridge’s budget, making sure taxpayers get value for money and the forward planning of council services and objectives.

A council spokesman said the number of staff earning �100,000 or more has “just” been reduced from 10 to six.

Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, announced the move in a bid to make town hall salaries transparent.

A Redbridge Council spokesman said: “They [the directors] are responsible for overseeing services to more than 250,000 people in the borough and, to ensure we have the best people in these important roles, the council offers a competitive salary that is in the medium range of other London boroughs.”