By political editor Paul Francis

Thousands of public sector staff across the county would face a one-year pay freeze under Conservative plans unveiled by shadow Chancellor George Osborne today.

Mr Osborne told the Conservative party conference he would implement the freeze in 2011 as part of a package of measures aimed at saving £7billion in public spending over three years.

He said the freeze would help safeguard the jobs of 100,000 frontline staff. Only those earning less than £18,000 a year and frontline military staff would get rises.

"I say to every public sector worker: it is the best way to try to protect your job during this period. We are all in this together," said Mr Osborne.

In another announcement that could affect the salary package offered to KCC’s next chief executive, the shadow Chancellor warned that any public authority who wanted to appoint senior staff on salaries higher than the Prime Minister – about £194,000 – would need his approval.

The move is a response to widespread criticism of rising public sector "fat cat" pay packages.

But the pledge to curb public spending through a pay freeze was criticised by unions representing council staff in Kent.

Zoe Van Dyke, South East regional organiser for Unison, said it would not be welcomed by the large number of staff working for KCC whose salaries were just above the £18,000 threshold.

About three-quarters of KCC employees earn about £20,000 or less.

"This will not be welcomed. At that level [of earnings] I do not think that people can afford to ‘share the pain’ as George Osborne put it."

But she said there may not be an appetite for industrial action if such a freeze was implemented. "Whether or not people would be prepared to take action is another matter."

County council staff were balloted on industrial action earlier this year in protest at a one per cent pay award and voted for action short of a strike.