How 'non-jobs' on public payroll are soaking up Brit taxpayers' money

London, Apr 19 (ANI): A 23,000-pound-a-year composting supervisor, a toothbrush adviser for infants and a ceremonial sword bearer - these are some of the pointless jobs because of which British councils have come under fire.

Obtained under freedom of information legislation, an audit of local government positions reveals jobs that are far removed from the core remit of councils and appear to be of questionable value.

They include trampoline coaches, skate park attendants, flower arrangers, a "befriending co-ordinator" and a 15-pound-an-hour yoga instructor.

"There has been a huge boom in the number of unnecessary and bizarre jobs in local government in recent years," The Times quoted Mat-thew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, a pressure group, as saying.

"Many of the posts are laughable, but they have a serious financial impact for taxpayers. The last thing we need in the middle of a recession is to have hundreds of 'non-jobs' on the public payroll soaking up taxpayers' money," he added.

One of the worst offending councils is Newcastle upon Tyne, which employs a dedicated "breastfeeding peer support co-ordinator" and a "composting supervisor" who earns a salary of up to 23,470 pounds to run a facility that turns garden waste into compost.

A spokesman for the council mainly in management claimed all its posts were "necessary and sensible roles". (ANI)