Businessman Terry Waters, who was a member of Forest Heath District Council for six years, has thrown down the gauntlet to the Mildenhall-based authority's chief executive David Burnip and one of its senior directors Nigel McCurdy, after the Journal revealed that together their salary packages in 2009/10 totalled more than £215,000.

Mr Waters, who lives in West Row near Mildenhall and represented The Rows ward on the council, wants Mr Burnip, Mr McCurdy and council leader, Geoffrey Jaggard, to take part in a public meeting.

And if they agree he said he would donate £5,000 to a "mutually agreed" children's charity.

"I want them to explain and justify their high salaries to the people who pay for them," said Mr Waters.

"These are very difficult times for a lot of people who I am sure were, like me, surprised by the wages we pay to our council officers.

All I am asking is that they prove to us, the taxpayers who pay their wages, that they are worth it."

He added: "This meeting would be chaired properly and not be a 'free for all'.

"I have a list of five people who would be willing to chair such a meeting and the officers can choose who they would like to chair it."

Earlier this month Forest Heath Council's accounts revealed Mr Burnip's total salary package in 2009/10 was £119,706 which included a £15,862 employer pension contribution and a £6,188 car allowance.

Nigel McCurdy earned £96,231 including extras while another senior council officer Andrew Claydon got £95,703.

Cllr Jaggard defended the high salaries. "We are a small authority and it is very difficult to recruit the right staff as they have to have a range of skills as their duties cover a range of issues which in bigger authorities would be covered by a whole army of staff."

Mr Waters said he wanted the officers to respond to his invitation through the Journal.

"If they are prepaared to go ahead, I will sort out the rest," he said.

"I want them to explain and justify their high salaries to the people who pay for them," said Mr Waters.

"These are very difficult times for a lot of people who I am sure were, like me, surprised by the wages we pay to our council officers.

All I am asking is that they prove to us, the taxpayers who pay their wages, that they are worth it."

He added: "This meeting would be chaired properly and not be a 'free for all'.

"I have a list of five people who would be willing to chair such a meeting and the officers can choose who they would like to chair it."

Earlier this month Forest Heath Council's accounts revealed Mr Burnip's total salary package in 2009/10 was £119,706 which included a £15,862 employer pension contribution and a £6,188 car allowance.

Nigel McCurdy earned £96,231 including extras while another senior council officer Andrew Claydon got £95,703.

Mr Waters said he wanted the officers to respond to his invitation through the Journal.

"If they are prepared to go ahead, I will sort out the rest," he said.