The chief executive at Crawley Borough Council earned more than £143,000 last year, figures show.

Natalie Brahma-Pearl, who has been in the role since June 2017, earned a salary of £116,846 in the 2018/19 financial year.

The 48-year-old also earned a further £1,776 after claiming car allowance and mileage, as well as £25,239 towards her pension.

In total, she earned £143, 961.

The figures were revealed as the TaxPayers' Alliance (TPA) published its annual Town Hall Rich List on Wednesday (April 15).

The report found Ms Brahma-Pearl was the only employee at Crawley Borough Council to have earned more than £100,000 last year.

Ms Brahma-Pearl was previously director of community services at Horsham District Council before taking up the role of chief executive at Crawley Borough Council.

When compared to what other chief executives in the area were paid, Ms Brahma-Pearl's income wasn't extortionate.

The chief executive at Horsham District Council earned £136,483, while the chief executive at Brighton & Hove City Council earned £182,764.

Croydon Council chief executive, Jo Negrini, earned £217,194.

John O'Connell, chief executive of the TPA, which is a secretive anti-tax campaigning group that does not reveal its donors, said: "The coronavirus crisis means that frontline council services are more crucial than ever, but at the same time household budgets face an enormous squeeze from crushing council tax rises.

"There are plenty of talented people in local authorities who are focused on delivering more for less, but that is needed across the board. The country needs every council to cut out waste and prioritise key services without resorting to punishing tax hikes on their residents.

"These figures should shine a light on the town hall bosses who’ve got it right, but also allow taxpayers to hold to account those who aren’t delivering value for money at this critical time."

Elsewhere in the country, Essex County Council had 35 employees earning more than £100,000 - the most in the country.

In the South East, the local authority with the most employees who were paid more than £100,000 in 2018-19 was Kent County Council with 32.

The highest paid council employee in England was the chief officer for health and social care at North Lanarkshire Council, receiving £615,550 in total remuneration. This included a pension payment of £350,116, loss of office payment of £119,401 and salary of £146,033.

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