More than 200 council employees in Medway* are earning more than £50,000 a year, according to the latest figures.

The news emerged days after the council decided to put up council tax by more than 4.88 per cent. Originally it was going to be higher, but is still one of the country’s biggest rises.

A Freedom of Information request, put in by the Medway Messenger, revealed the number has risen from 196 to 219 in the past year.

None of them match Peter Gilroy, chief executive of Kent County Council, who reportedly receives £250,000 a year. The position of KCC boss is traditionally the highest-paid council officer post in the country.

Unlike KCC’s management team, however, none of Medway’s officers get a bonus.

Figures for KCC for the same year showed 407 managers earned £50,000 or more from a £1.8 billion overall budget. In comparison, Medway’s budget is about £607.8 million.

*Council staff includes teaching staff.