Kent County Council's leader has apologised today after it was revealed £53,000 in bonuses were paid to senior staff last year - despite an apparent promise that they'd been cut.

The apology came after Cllr Paul Carter was pressed to explain why the money - on top of six-figure salaries - was paid despite a promise made by former chief executive Peter Gilroy.

He said in January 2009 that members of the chief officers group would not receive bonuses because of the spending squeeze.

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Cllr Carter explained that Mr Gilroy's statement had not intended to mislead staff but admitted the way it was worded was open to interpretation.

Speaking at a meeting at County Hall today, he said the £53,000 was related to performance-related bonuses paid for 2008-2009.

"I do admit the Peter Gilroy statement could have been better worded," he said.

"There was certainly no intention to mislead staff but because it was not explicit it was open to misinterpretation.

"The intention was to make staff aware that chief officers would not be considered for any payments relating to their performance during 2009-2010."

He added that no bonuses would be paid in the current financial year.

"I hope this finally ends the matter and I apologise to staff who may have felt misled."

Cllr Carter was responding to a question tabled by the Liberal Democrats' finance spokesman Cllr Tim Prater.

He said that staff might have felt the authority was saying one thing on officers' bonuses and then doing another.