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CORRECTION: In the regional breakdown the financial year listed is 2021-22. This has been amended to 2022-23, which is the correct year.
CORRECTION: The first edition of this press release had Ards and North Down's chief executive as the highest remunerated official in Northern Ireland. This has now been changed to Mid and East Antrim's chief executive
Embargoed: 00:01, Tuesday 9th April 2024
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Town Hall Rich List 2024 finds that 3,106 officials received more than £100,000, with 829 receiving over £150,000 in 2022-23.
- The TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) provides a council-by-council breakdown of local government executive pay deals.
- With households being hit by inflation-busting council tax rises, the campaign group is calling on local authority bosses to offer value for money and stop council tax hikes.
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Click here for frequently asked questions about the Town Hall Rich List.
As households across the country are hit with inflation-busting council tax rises, the TaxPayers' Alliance (TPA) today publishes its annual Town Hall Rich List, the only comprehensive list of its kind with a council-by-council breakdown of local government executive pay deals.
The number of town hall bosses receiving more than £100,000 in 2022-23 stood at 3,106, the highest level since the 2015 edition of this list and the second highest on record. It comes as core spending power for local authorities measured in real terms per person was revealed to have exceeded 2015-16 levels in the latest financial year. But with 59 councils failing to provide accounts, the real number could be as high as 3,637, which would be a record.
The number of council staff receiving over £150,000 hit a record high of 829, while for the first time, the number receiving over £200,000 has been specifically revealed, with 175 receiving this remuneration. One member of staff, the director of culture, community and business services at Hampshire council, received £651,158, made up of £120,133 in salary, £121,203 in compensation for loss of office and £409,822 in pension payments.
Despite consistent calls about stretched budgets and struggling services, there has been a surge in the number of senior officials receiving six-figure remuneration packages at the same time that councils have seen boosts in revenues through council tax rises and increased funding from central government. The TPA is calling on councils to ensure value for money for residents by freezing council tax.
Key findings:
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At least 3,106 people employed in local authorities in 2022-23 received total remuneration of at least £100,000, an increase of 347 on 2021-22. Of these, 829 received at least £150,000, 108 more than the previous year. This is the largest number of people in receipt of at least £150,000 since the Town Hall Rich List began in 2007.
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In 2022-23, at least 175 council employees received more than £200,000 in total remuneration.
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The prime minister had a salary entitlement of £164,951 in 2022-23. 188 council employees had a higher salary than this, with 557 receiving total remuneration in excess of this.
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A total of 59 councils did not provide accounts for 2022-23.
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There are an average of nine council employees receiving at least £100,000 per council, this means that the estimated total would be 3,637 had all councils provided accounts.
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Local authorities, which were abolished at the end of 2022-23 to create new unitary authorities at the start of 2023-24, had compensation for loss of office payments totalling £1.35 million.
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Two councils, Bolsover and West Oxfordshire, had no employees receiving over £100,000 in 2022-23.
UK's highest paying councils
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In 2022-23, the local authority with the most employees receiving at least £100,000 in total remuneration was Westminster with 60 staff, ten more than the previous year.
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The highest remunerated council employee was the now former director of culture, community and business services at Hampshire council, Felicity Roe, who received £651,158 in total remuneration. This included a pension payment of £409,822, loss of office payment of £121,203 and salary of £120,133.
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The largest bonus given was to the chief executive of Edinburgh International Conference Centre, a subsidiary of Edinburgh council, M Dallas, who received a payment of £72,280.
John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:
"The new financial year has seen council tax soar across the country, and taxpayers will notice that top brass pay has simultaneously surged.
"Local authorities provide crucial services and residents will want to make sure they are getting bang for their buck with their ever-increasing bills.
“Residents can use these figures to ask whether precious funds are really going towards frontline services, or whether town hall bosses can get better value for money.”
TPA spokespeople are available for live and pre-recorded broadcast interviews via 07795 084 113 (no texts)
Regional breakdown:
In the East Midlands:
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For the fourth year running, the local authority in the East Midlands with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2022-23 was Lincolnshire, with 14, the same as the previous year.
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The biggest remuneration package was received by North East Lincolnshire’s deputy chief executive and executive director for people, health and care - £385,208.
In the East of England
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For the tenth year running, the local authority in the East of England with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2022-23 was Essex, with 45, the same as the previous year.
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The biggest remuneration package was received by Cambridgeshire’s executive director: place and economy - £419,717.
In London
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For the fourth year running, the local authority in London with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2022-23 was Westminster, with 60, ten more than the previous year. This authority had the most employees on over £100,000 in the country.
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The biggest remuneration package was received by Tower Hamlets’ chief executive - £484,142.
In the North East
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For the fourth year running, the local authority in the North East with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2022-23 was Northumberland, with 22, one fewer than the previous year.
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The biggest remuneration package was received by Newcastle upon Tyne’s director of resources - £496,403.
In the North West
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The local authority in the North West with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2022-23 was Liverpool, with 27.
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The biggest remuneration package was received by Cumbria’s chief executive - £586,134.
In Northern Ireland
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The local authority in Northern Ireland with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2022-23 was Antrim and Newtownabbey, with six.
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The biggest remuneration package was received by Mid and East Antrim's chief executive - £188,213.
In Scotland
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The local authority in Scotland with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2022-23 was Glasgow, with 42.
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The biggest remuneration package was received by the chief executive officer of Scottish Event Campus Ltd, a subsidiary of Glasgow - £287,469.
In the South East
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The local authority in the South East with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2022-23 was Kent, with 39.
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The biggest remuneration package was received by Hampshire’s director of culture, community and business services - £651,158.
In the South West
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The local authority in the South West with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2022-23 was Cornwall, with 20.
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The biggest remuneration package was received by Exeter’s chief executive and growth director - £369,680.
In Wales
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For the second year running, the local authority in Wales with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2022-23 was Cardiff, with 18, one more than the previous year.
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The biggest remuneration package was received by Cardiff’s chief executive - £229,440.
In the West Midlands
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The local authority in the West Midlands with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2022-23 was Warwickshire, with 36.
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The biggest remuneration package was received by Solihull’s chief executive - £326,411.
In Yorkshire and the Humber
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The local authority in Yorkshire and the Humber with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2022-23 was Leeds, with 24.
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The biggest remuneration package was received by Hambleton’s chief executive - £429,307.
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