SUFFOLK'S top boss has turned down a pay hike topping £4,000, The Evening Star can reveal today.

SUFFOLK'S top boss has turned down a pay hike topping £4,000, it can be revealed today.

As part of Suffolk County Council's current budget setting process the authority has earmarked a two per cent rise for staff next April.

Salary increases for Andrea Hill are decided separately to other staff but a similar increase of two pc had been earmarked for her.

It would have seen her whopping £218,592 salary soar by £4,372 to £222,964.

However sources within the council say she decided several months ago to forego a pay hike, due to come into effect next April.

News of the decision comes at a time of global economic turmoil with hundreds of people across the county are facing uncertainty over the future of their jobs.

Suffolk County Council itself has announced that up to 22 jobs will go as part of efficiency savings while retailers and construction firms are among businesses in Suffolk making essential cutbacks.

A spokesman for Suffolk County Council declined to comment on Mrs Hill's decision.

Mrs Hill, 44, has come under the media spotlight on several occasions since taking the Suffolk hot seat in April this year.

Criticism has been aimed at the size of her salary - one of the highest local authority packages in the UK and £70,000 more than previous incumbent Mike More.

Just last month the Star reported that a bid by Andrea Hill to expand her personal support staff was aborted.

Mrs Hill advertised for an employee whose main job would be to look after her day-to-day diary.

The advert said the management of the chief executive's diary was “a newly created post” with a salary in the scale of £17,781-£19,463, plus the council's contribution to pension and insurance costs.

After being alerted to the position, council leader Jeremy Pembroke intervened and the Conservative-run council announced it would not proceed with the appointment.