UKIP has promised to slash ‘excessive pay deals and golden handshakes for council executives' in its general election manifesto published today.

Among the list of pledges relating to local government, UKIP has vowed to keep council tax as low as possible, reinstate weekly bin collections and oppose the cabinet system of governance in favour of a return to the committee system.

Outline measures for delivering value for money include cutting excessive councillor expenses, reining in pay deals and exit payments for council executives and placing limits on the number of highly-paid council employees – and abolishing ‘non essential jobs and red tape'.