A council leader today defended the huge salary hikes enjoyed by chief executives in the West Midlands.

The pay of the region’s top council officers has soared by up to 16 per cent in the past two years, it has emerged.

But Walsall Council leader Mike Bird insisted the role of its chief executive required a unique range of skills and experience that commanded a high wage.

“With this post comes a great deal of responsibility and it requires considerable commitment to ensure the council delivers across more than 800 services.”

Topping the Black Country salary league is Walsall’s chief executive Paul Sheehan whose wages have risen by 16 per cent to £189,533 since 2008.

At Birmingham City Council chief executive Stephen Hughes could receive £209,300 this year when his bonuses have been calculated – a £13,000 or seven per cent increase.

Nick Bell who takes over as Staffordshire County Council chief executive next month will receive £195,000 while Dudley’s John Polychronakis enjoyed a more modest rise of £9,700 bringing his pay up to £157,000.

Wolverhampton’s top executive Simon Warren receives just under £136,000 after increments of £8,000.

Allison Fraser, who is in Sandwell’s equivalent post, commands a £152,174 salary following a pay hike of just under £7,000.

This compares with the £105,000, up by £4,000, paid to Ian Miller, the chief executive of Wyre Forest District Council, and the £96,906 pay packet of the Lichfield District Council boss Nina Dawes who took a wage freeze last year.