WEST Somerset Council's top officer could be given a new title to bring him in line with other local authorities.

Long serving staff member Adrian Dyer, a former director and acting head of paid service, was made executive director when chief executive Tim Howes left the authority unexpectedly almost three years ago.

But councillors are now being asked to approve the re-naming of Mr Dyer's post as chief executive.

The change was backed by the authority's scrutiny committee at its meeting on Monday but a decision will be taken by its cabinet and full council within the next couple of weeks.

However, although Mr Dyer's salary of £61,000 currently falls way below that of chief executives of Somerset's other district councils and is more on a par with their group managers, the new title would not at this stage bring any increase in pay.

But it would give him additional employment protection.

The pay of the chief executives of Somerset's four other district councils ranges from £121,000 in South Somerset - where the post is shared with neighbouring East Devon - to £103,000 in Sedgemoor.

However, the annual budgets of the councils range from just under £20 million in South Somerset to £13.9m in Taunton Deane, compared to just £5.2m in West Somerset.

The committee also supported calls for a review of the current number of group managers, which would be undertaken by Mr Dyer, and in response to the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review this week, a further all inclusive review of the corporate management team.

The ratio of senior managers to staff is much higher in West Somerset, compared to Somerset's other districts where managers are responsible for even double or even triple the numbers.

Councillors also backed a move to publish data on salaries, job titles and other details for staff earning above £50,000 by the end of the year, following recommendations from the Audit Commission which are expected to become Government policy.

Cllr Kate Kravis, lead member for finance, told the committee that she felt very strongly that Mr Dyer's position needed clarifying.

She said his current title caused needless confusion outside of the authority.

"I fight all the time to make sure that we have a voice, that we are recognised, that we mean what we say and that we are not thought of as poor little West Somerset.

"Giving him [Mr Dyer] that name makes a big difference."

Human resources consultant Martin Griffin, who drew up a report on the issue, said Mr Dyer had the same responsibilities as chief executives of Somerset's other district councils.

"The [current] title puts West Somerset and the individual at a a disadvantage in negotiations," he said.

Cllr Doug Ross said the council had made the post of chief executive redundant when Mr Howes had left, which was why Mr Dyer had been given the title of executive director.

But he said the legal period during which the council could not reappoint had now passed.

Cllr Ross said it would be up to the council to determine Mr Dyer's salary, which would have to be in proportion to the size of the authority.

"Although he has the same nature of responsibility and accountability, other councils have more staff and are bigger," he said.

However, Cllr Ross said West Somerset's group managers did more than "just manage".

"I understand there should be a review of senior management structure, but they are doing ordinary officers' jobs as well - they work very hard."

Cllr Ian Melhuish said if re-naming Mr Dyer's position made it easier for him to do his job, he was happy.

"On the other hand, if it was the empire building that we had before, then I would not be so happy."

And Cllr Tony Knight said the council needed to raise its image outside of the area.

"We may have a small population and not much money but we are not a second-class council," he said.