THE embattled Royal Bank of Scotland boss Stephen Hester, in the face of a mounting political storm, announced on Monday that he would waive a controversial bonus of close to £1million.

The fact that he was – as the chief of a taxpayer-owned bank – getting any sort of financial dividend above his eye-watering £1.2million salary is frankly staggering in itself. If Mr Hester was to receive any kind of performance-related award, perhaps he should have been in line for it when the bank was ready to be sold back to the private sector, and not before.

When it comes to spending our hard-earned cash, the public sector always seems to adopt an odd attitude. Remember the MPs' expenses scandal? There were some politicians who seemed to think that the taxpayer was a cashpoint. Luckily, some were found out and a couple – but by no means enough – went to prison.

There are some who plead poverty. What a joke.

How many people do you know who earn £65,000 per year plus benefits for a second home, travel, staff, office equipment and the rest?

Some of these chancers say they could be earning more elsewhere but it is a sense of public duty which drives them. Well, they're free to resign any time they like.

Meanwhile at County Hall, as reported on page 28, the Kent County Council (KCC) gravy train "continues to merrily chug along", with news that two more staff are being hired on six-figure salaries.

KCC is actively looking for a £120,000-a-year director of specialist children's services and a £106,000-a-year director of education quality and standards.

In addition, there is a third vacancy for an £88,000-a-year director of education planning and access.

It is entirely possible the successful applicants will be excellent value for their inflated salaries and, arguably, in the case of the children's services directorship, the responsibility is more than money can pay for.

But ask yourself again, how may people do you know who earn that kind of salary?

There are legions of such creatures all over the public sector, and Kent County Council has hired, lost or made redundant its fair share in recent times.

The Katherine Kerswell saga is a case in point. Her tenure as KCC chief ended in December, just 18 months into a four-year contract. We understand she walked away with a £450,000 golden handshake.

Once the new roles are filled, 20 KCC directors will be earning more than £100,000, five of them taking home in excess of £150,000.

All this comes as the same authority prepares to cull 400 lower-grade staff in the new financial year.

KCC has been slammed by pressure group the Taxpayers' Alliance, and rightly so. There will soon be 26 directors at KCC, with a combined salary bill of £3 million.

Still, it's only money. Our money.