An ex-boss at Slough Borough Council (SBC) raked in more money than any other council worker in the UK, shocking figures reveal.

Ex-interim chief executive Roger Parkin has topped the Taxpayers’ Alliance’s annual Town Hall Rich List after receiving a total of £595,077 in 2017.

The total pay package includes his annual £112,959 annual salary, a £142,215 compensation pay-out when he left the position as well as £339,903 of pension contributions from the council.

Mr Parkin left SBC at the end of 2017 after councillors voted against offering him a permanent position amid allegations of “poor conduct” from senior councillors.

However, a spokesman for SBC said the figures have been presented “completely out of context” as they “don’t just involve a full year’s salary”.

Spokesman Kate Pratt said: “These figures have been presented completely out of context. These figures don’t just involve almost a full year's salary, but also pension contributions and redundancy payments all of which, in Slough’s case, are only what is contractually and statutorily mandated.”

Chief executive of the Taxpayers’ Alliance John O’Connell said the “sheer scale” of the remuneration packages “raises serious questions about efficiencies and priorities”.

He said: “Disappointingly, many local authorities are now responding to financial reality through further tax rises and reducing services rather than scaling back top pay.

“Despite many in the public sector facing a much-needed pay freeze to help bring the public finances under control, many town hall bosses are continuing to pocket huge remuneration packages, with staggering pay-outs for those leaving their jobs.

"There are talented people in the public sector who are trying to deliver more for less, but the sheer scale of these packages raises serious questions about efficiency and priorities."