TOP managers at Southend Council will have a cap on salary increases this year, because of the recession.

Anyone who earns more than £100,000 will have their annual pay increase, including performance pay, capped at a maximum of 1 per cent.

Performance pay in the past has been as high as ten per cent.

Meanwhile, bosses have said there are no plans for any redundancies at the council in the coming year.

Council leader Nigel Holdcroft said: “Senior officers are in a different position to other members of the council’s staff as they may not receive any increase at all if they do not achieve the targets set for them.

“Previously, we have given a figure as high as ten per cent that could be reached if every one of the targets was met.

“I think this is a sensible decision which was put forward by the senior officers themselves in a report to the committee and was agreed by the performance-related pay panel.”

The panel has members from both the Conservative administration and opposition parties.

A review of the situation will be carried out in April to fix the awards for 2010-11.

Other council staff will receive a 1 per cent pay rise under agreements already made and there are no immediate plans to lay off staff during this recession.

Council chief executive Rob Tinlin said: “For all staff other than senior managers, the council remains part of the national negotiations on pay.

“We therefore apply whatever pay award is agreed between the employers and the unions nationally. For April 2009 this was 1 per cent. Staff also receive annual increments until they reach the maximum of their grade.

“At the current time there are no plans to include any money for redundancy costs in the budget.”