THE chief executive of the Local Government Association, York-based John Ransford, has taken a £200,000 pay cut – and council bosses have been urged to follow suit.

Mr Ransford, a former chief executive of North Yorkshire County Council, took the cut following pressure from Government ministers and council chiefs who wanted him to lead by example.

Mr Ransford, who lives in York, had a total pay package in 2009/10 of £302,840 – made up of a base salary of £245,612 and pension contributions of £57,228.

His base pay has now been cut to “less than £100,000” said the Local Government Association, and he will receive no pension contributions until he retires next summer.

Local Government minister Grant Shapps welcomed the move and said well-paid council chiefs across the country should follow suit, “to protect frontline services”.

Thirty council leaders signed a letter to The Times this week, saying Ransford’s pay package was “simply not acceptable in the current climate”.