YEAR in, year out, we hear the same old 'mantra' from councils across the land . . . "we have to pay the money to attract the right applicant".

This is Bury, not the United Kingdom, so a chief executive on a salary greater a par with the Prime Minister?

No comparison with the responsibility issue and can any one from the council give an example of where "paying the right salary" has caused someone to deliver the goods. Just look at the catastrophe of last year's chief executive in Bolton.

He left after only a few months with a huge payout after a fouled-up decision by the committee employing him.

So, leave salary as is . . . unless you want to give it take it off the councillors' collective allowances?

If any applicant has a succession of appointments under the belt, ask why?

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