The head of a government-backed organisation that's tasked with bringing propsperity to the South West is in line for a 25 per cent pay rise.
But Devon County Council say they voted against the increase for the CEO of Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership which would see his pay package go up from £90,729 to £115,000.
The board of the LEP have agreed to the rise for Chris Garcia. They say the salary brings him in line with the bosses of other LEP's and it more accurately reflects the changes to the role since he was appointed in 2013.
But Devon county council leader, John Hart says “As a local authority subject to significant government cuts, I cannot support a pay rise of 25 per cent for any high level official,” he said.
“It is clear the CEO does a good job and the LEP has brought many millions of pounds into the Devon economy. But there has to be recognition of the tight financial times in which we live.”
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