Pembrokeshire County Council has hit back at a report by the TaxPayers’ Alliance claiming the authority had eight “unnecessary” jobs, which could be cut “without threatening the delivery of frontline services”.

The report states that seven European Officers and one Diversity Officer cost the county’s tax-payers a total of £65,002 in 2009-10.

A Pembrokeshire County Council spokesman said that the report “did not take into account the fact that the role of European officers in Wales is different to that of their English counterparts.

“The cost of the council’s European Unit is mostly met from EU funds. Only two of the council’s European officers are permanent members of staff.

“With cuts in UK Government spending anticipated, European Officers’ role in obtaining external funds is increasingly important if the level and quality of public services are to be maintained.”