THE eye-watering amount of money paid to senior civil servants in Oxfordshire is sure to raise a few eyebrows, especially during these difficult times.

A Town Hall rich list has been compiled by the Taxpayers’ Alliance showing that 11 civil servants in Oxfordshire last year earned six figure salaries, costing more than £1.27m for the year.

Joanna Simons, the chief executive of Oxfordshire County Council, pocketed £175,000, while Peter Sloman, her counterpart at Oxford City Council, earned £122,970.

While these huge salaries are likely to infuriate those who easily find fault in how local government operates, let’s not forget that private sector pay for major employers in multi-million pound businesses is a lot more handsome. These individuals could reasonably expect to earn many times more in private companies. And what if the salaries were lowered anyway?

Broadly speaking, the calibre of candidate reflects the level of pay and while we might not always agree with decisions made at town halls, we want the best people for the jobs.

So if that means paying the going rate, then so be it.