A COUNCIL boss who angered opponents by claiming cabinet members may do less work following a pay cut has refused to resign.

Cabinet members on Tendring Council have seen their pay cut from £10,382 a year to £8,669 after a recommendation from the authority’s independent panel.

The allowance is on top of the basic £5,122 paid to all 60 councillors.

All the cabinet members voted in favour of the recommendations, except for seafronts and coastal protection boss Nick Turner.

He said the move would not save money, saying: “Those enlightened councillors who do not claim all expenses will now start doing so. Less work will be done and more time will be taken and that is only human nature.”

Mr Turner also said he was personally responsible for bringing in £36million to the council for Clacton’s sea defence scheme.

Mr Turner’s words angered Labour group leader Ivan Henderson, who called on Mr Turner to resign – or for him to be sacked by council leader Neil Stock.

Mr Henderson said: “To have taken sole personal credit for the £36million investment in coastal defence, and to insist the reduction in the allowances paid to portfolio holders would inevitably result in less work being undertaken, is both unworthy of, and unacceptable, from a portfolio holder serving Tendring Council.

“It would be a slap in the face to every dedicated and hardworking officer serving the council if Mr Turner was allowed to remain in post, having publicly and deliberately expressed such views.” But Mr Turner said he would not be resigning his position.

He said: “I never thought politics could be so malicious and nasty. It’s been completely and utterly misunderstood, what I said.”

Mr Turner, who represents Frinton ward on the district and town councils, added: “I have won 11 straight elections to councils.

The majority of those who vote feel the same way – and that’s my mandate.”

Mr Stock said Mr Turner had not said cabinet members would do less work but that he had meant to say the move to cut expenses would risk that happening.

He added: “It is hypocritical of Ivan or anyone to criticise someone over allowances when he is a professional politician with five different allowances for having no real responsibility.

“I don’t agree with what Nick said and made it clear he had a different point of view, but we don’t operate a whip system and he is free to have his opinions.”