Press and communications officers at Shropshire Council work across a “wide range” of services and help bring money into the coffers, the authority has said.

A Freedom of Information request earlier this week showed the authority employed 20 members of staff in the communications department – or 18.3 full-time equivalent roles.

The figures were disputed by the council, which said it had four press officers and an assistant.

But now the authority has clarified the situation, saying it has 18 officers and an assistant.

Michele Leith, Shropshire Council’s director of workforce and transformation, said: “As a large organisation providing a wide range of services, it is vital that we are able to ensure that our staff, residents and councillors are well informed. 

“We employ 10 full-time members of staff and one part-time member of staff within our communications team. 

“Not just ‘press officers’, these carry out many different roles including PR, design, internal communications and marketing.

“We also employ eight other officers across the organisation who do marketing as part of their role. 

“One example of this is within the theatre which operates on a commercial basis, bringing money back into the council so that it can be spent on essential services.”

Only Sheffield Council (24) and Dorset Council (23) employ more staff in public relations, research from the TaxPayers’ Alliance found.

The figures were criticised by leader of the Lib Dem group on the council, Councillor Roger Evans, who said: “I am totally amazed that with all the cutbacks Shropshire Council has made and the number of staff being asked to do two jobs that there are 20 people in that department.

“To hear that we have 20 people in public relations is amazing. I call on the ruling Conservative group to examine this immediately and see what can be done.

“Preserving the council’s reputation seems more important than actually helping people out.

“Actions speak louder than words – and something needs to be done about this.”