A council leader has been condemned for receiving an 11 per cent pay rise while homeowners face huge tax increases and services may have to be cut.

Paul Rigg, chief executive of West Sussex County Council, will now earn £150,000 a year.

The news has sparked calls for him to refuse the rise, as the authority has voted to impose an 18.5 per cent council tax increase.

Mid Sussex district councillor Anne Jones said: "The council has had to tighten its belt after the announcement on central government funding, so why are they hiking up the chief executive's pay?

"These council tax rises will severely affect people on fixed incomes, so I think it's outrageous Mr Rigg should get an increase so far above inflation. He has received around 11 per cent while teachers got a measly 2.9 per cent. There are also cut backs across the board."

Coun Jones is demanding the chief executive decline the extra cash like Lord Irvine, the Lord Chancellor.

In Westminster last week, there was public outcry when it was revealed he would receive a 12.6 per cent increase, bringing his salary to just over £200,000, and Lord Irvine was forced into an embarrassing retreat.

Coun Jones said: "Lord Irvine was right to accept a pay rise at the rate of inflation and I think Mr Rigg should do the same."

West Sussex Cabinet members voted on January 28 to increase counciltaxes by 18.5 per cent but just after the county council's regulation, audit and accounts committees decided to put up Mr Rigg's salary from between £127,500 to £138,588 to £150,000.

This means while he enjoys a raise of up to £22,500, residents in West Sussex face paying an extra £134.37 a year for an average D band property, pushing the bill to £859.32.

At tomorrow morning's full council meeting at County Hall, the final decision on council tax will be debated.

The authority may also decide to put a freeze on certain services in a cost-cutting drive as the council will receive £30 million less in central government grants this year.

Mr Rigg refused to comment on his rise but fellow executive, Colin Waller, Cabinet member for resources, said: "The increase in the chief executive's pay was made after consulting external advisers and looking at comparable local authorities."