Audit chief's pay deal vetoed

COMMUNITIES Secretary Eric Pickles has vetoed a pay package of nearly £240,000 for the new head of the Audit Commission.

The local authority and NHS watchdog had apparently asked the government to approve a salary and pension package worth 239,800 a year for its new chief executive.

Mr Pickles said the sum was too high, insisting the public coffers were "empty".

He said: "The spiralling level of pay and perks for town hall bosses stops here.

Councillors should have the confidence to set sensible salaries that the public deem fit and proper."