ESSEX County Council had tough choices to make when it decided it needed to slash spending.

Did it squeeze the budgets of departments which deliver frontline services?

Or did it cut back on high-earning officers paid to make the big decisions?

The answer is the former.

And it has angered union bosses and council tax watchdogs.

Schools, social care and highways have been the biggest losers in County Hall’s £188million of cuts over the past four years.

But the offices of chief executive Joanna Killian, the support office of the ten cabinet members, have not lost a penny.

Cuts at the council have seen £21million axed from the Schools, Children and Families department between 2008 and 2010 and more than £46million cut from the Adult Social Care and Adults, Health and Community Wellbeing budgets since 2006.

Highways and environmental services have also lost out, with £42million being squeezed from their budgets in the past four years.

Jerry Glazier, general secretary of the Essex National Union of Teachers, said: “It beggars belief. It is terrible to force others to do things efficiently if these departments are not sharing the impact.

“We have been very concerned about the cuts, they might affect services.

“I think schools are bound to suffer and now we have this aggressive fiscal policy of the new Government.”

Matthew Elliott, chief executive of campaign group the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said: “It would be unacceptable for some departments to tighten their belts but for the leader’s office to continue unscathed.

“The nation’s finances are in big trouble and everyone must pull together to balance the books.”

Miss Killian, who earns £230,000-a-year, was recently on the BBC programme Panorama, discussing the efficiency savings she has implemented at the council.

She was unavailable to speak to the Gazette. However, Michael Page, spokesman for Essex County Council, said: “Joanna Killian is chief executive of two local authorities – Essex County Council and Brentwood District Council – and in the past four years has delivered savings worth a total of £188million, so we would strongly reject any accusation she is not leading by example when it comes to saving the authority money.

“Over the next three years, she will oversee the largest value-for- money programme of any council in the history of local government, saving some £300million by 2012, which equates to a third of the annual net Essex budget.

“At the same time, council tax increases will be pegged to below inflation for four years, and there will be no cuts in frontline services, despite the worst operating environment for 60 years.

“The county council requires quality people in order to bring about this massive change, and it is important not to overlook the responsibilities, complexity and challenges that come with the chief executive role.”

The cabinet office employs support staff, which act as advisers to cabinet members. Last year, they were advertising for new support staff with a starting salary of between £28,000 to £2,000 per year.