Councils are to be forced to disclose the pay and perks of their chief executives and other senior officers under new legislation designed to crackdown on so-called town hall "fat cats".

We revealed earlier this week how Kent County Council had paid its most senior officers more than £100,000 in bonuses, triggering a political row and a public outcry.

Now local government minister John Healey says the public has a right to know what council bosses earn and what bonuses, pensions and pay-offs they are entitled to.

He said: "We’ve seen in some councils’ salaries spiralling, we’ve seen some big pay-offs for failure, and that can’t go on. I think the public need to know the full picture. That’s why I’m going to change the rules."