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Communities and local government secretary Eric Pickles has called on council chief executives to cut their own "ludicrous" pay by as much as 10 per cent.
Council chief executives earning more than £150,000 should take a cut in their own pay by five per cent, he said, with those on £200,000 could afford to take a 10 per cent cut of their salary.
The communities and local government secretary made the suggestion following the prime minister's decision to cut ministerial pay by five per cent when he first came into power.
Pickles called on chief executives to follow the lead shown by senior ministers as they are forced to make cuts in spending.
In a speech to Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, Pickles said: "Everyone in the public sector must do their bit to cut back.
"The prime minister's taken a pay cut, I've taken a pay cut, so I say to my many chums who are council chief executives - it's your turn now.
"Trust me, I'm here to help, you will feel better for it - you'll be able to look your council workers in the eye."
Pickles also reinforced his insistence that there is no case for local authorities offering salaries greater than the prime minister's £142,500.
He said it its time to "put communities back in charge", suggesting that councils could share work and increase both transparency and productivity.
Pickles told conference he wants elected mayors to "trail blaze" initiatives to prevent social breakdown, with budgets pooled from across the public sector.
"I believe elected mayors in cities will be embraced by the public if they have real powers, he said.
"It's time for home rule for our cities, from Birmingham to Bristol, from Newcastle to Liverpool."
Pickles said the government has a "once in a generation chance to change our country for the better", telling the party faithful: "Let's get on with it!"
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