Figures published in the council’s statement of accounts today show Richard Flinton received £217,798 in salary and allowances alongside £26,777 in employer pension contributions, bringing his total remuneration to £244,575.
Mr Flinton is set to retire next March after a 40-year career in local government, overseeing the transition to the unified unitary authority.
The accounts also highlight a 34% rise in council staff earning over £50,000 annually, driven largely by national pay agreements across education and social care roles.