DORSET councillors are being warned to have their arguments ready to justify the anticipated £175,000 a year salary for the chief executive of the new Dorset Council.

They were warned at a meeting in Dorchester this week that there would be criticism from the public and councillors should expect to “bear the flack.”

The figure, of between £160,000 and £175,000, has been recommended by consultants who claim the amount is what is needed to attract a candidate good enough to run the new council.

A survey shows that the highest paid chief executive of the 15 unitary authorities in the South West received £159,409 in 2014/15 with the average pay just over £150,000.

Interviews for the new post are expected to be held in the late summer with the job being advertised in the coming month.

Cllr Sherry Jespersen said: “We need to ensure that when this goes public with an advert we have a clear statement for anyone who gets rankled at by residents explaining why the salary is at the level it is. It will raise eyebrows, but we should be comfortable with the salary.”

Dorset County Council leader Cllr Rebecca Knox said that the salary had been bench-marked independently of the council, comparing salaries regionally and nationally.

“But we must make that a feature of our communications plan,” she said.

A report before the Dorset Area Joint Committee which met in Dorchester said that there are “challenges” for councils in appointing chief executives.

But John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance said that whoever took up the role would have to prove that they are worth the salary.

“Council executive pay is generally too high in the UK, and the holder of this new post must work very hard to prove they are worth anything like it,” he said.

“Taxpayers are fed up of council tax shooting up every year, seemingly to pay exorbitant remuneration, because don’t forget this chief executive will be receiving a very generous pension on top of their salary.”

He added: “It may be more difficult to run a new unitary organisation for a few years than an existing body, but why not link the pay to performance?”

The report before the Joint Committee said: “All councils are faced with the challenge of recruiting and retaining senior staff in what is a relatively small pool of appropriately qualified individuals…

“The opportunity to be the first chief executive for Dorset Council will be attractive to many, but the available pool of candidates may influence the final decision regarding salary, as well as the level of experience and range of skills considered essential to the role.”

On top of the £160,000-£175,000 salary, the draft job description includes more than £7,500 towards the cost of moving, 33 days of holiday and a local government pension.