Hertfordshire county councillors have agreed to increase the salary paid to the executive director for growth and environment, in a bid to stay competitive in the jobs market.

The current salary range for the role sits between £137,729 and £154,740 – with the current holder reported to be at the top of that range.

But at the latest meeting of the council's employment committee (June 19), councillors agreed that the current salary be increased by £5,590 – and that the range available for the position should be increased, to a maximum of £167,864.

At the meeting, it was reported that the role was currently paid the least of the county council's executive directors.

It was reported that benchmarking showed the average salary amongst the top five comparable councils – including Essex, Cambridgeshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Kent – was £166,000.

And it was reported that Essex County Council has recently advertised for an executive director of place and customer with a salary of "up to £179,000".