Council chiefs are paying �750 a day for an agency worker to run a cash-strapped department four days a week, the Times can reveal. Brent Council are splashing out �3,000 a week for the services of Genny Renard who is the intern head of

Council chiefs are paying �750 a day for an agency worker to run a cash-strapped department four days a week, the Times can reveal.

Brent Council are splashing out �3,000 a week for the services of Genny Renard who is the intern head of the borough's community safety partnership unit.

Ms Renard has been in the post since January last year, costing the council �156,000 last year and a further �75,000 since January, despite being recruited for the role on a temporary basis.

As the temporary boss of the council's community safety partnership unit, Ms Renard oversees the day to day running of the department which has a separate section that deals with anti-social behaviour.

In the last few months, the department has implemented a range of cuts including at least three officers being made redundant, with funds normally allocated to anti-violent crime organisation Not Another Drop (NAD) slashed from �40,000 to �10,000.

On a full-time rate, Ms Renard would cost the council �195,000 a year making her the costliest person working at the council

The six-figure sum eclipses the �180,000 annual salary paid to Gareth Daniel, the borough's chief executive and the council's highest paid worker.

Both sums overshadow the wage of Prime Minister David Cameron who takes home an annual salary of �142,500.

The amount the council pays for the services of Ms Renard has come to light just a week after the council admitted it is facing nearly �6million of cuts, which could deplete front-line services.

Cheryl Sealey, CEO of Victim Aid, a national organisation that supports victims of violent crime, said: "I think it's outrageous that they are spending so much on wages when their services are the most important issues.

"I hope the new Government will take away the powers from local authorities that allows them to spend huge amounts of money like this and give those powers to an independent body.

"Until they dog, local communities are being deprived of much needed services."

When the Times initially contacted Brent Council regarding the cost of hiring Ms Renard a spokeswoman claimed is paying �250 a day for her services.

But, on further inquiry, the authority admitted the figure was incorrect, revealing it has 'engaged' a top level crime and safety specialist, through an external agency for�750 a day.

The spokeswoman added: "The council does not discuss the salaries of individual officers."

Matthew Elliott, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, a lobbying group which campaigns for less wastage of public funds, said the revelations were shocking.

He said: "The idea that someone who is meant to be an interim official could still be in post, pocketing these massive sums after 18 months is farcical.

"The council has got to stop wasting money like this immediately.