12th edition of the Town Hall Rich List

Town Hall Rich List: TaxPayers' Alliance reveals 2,441 council staff raked in more than £100,000

• As most councils in the UK are putting up council tax this month, the TaxPayers' Alliance publishes its annual Town Hall Rich List
• In 2017-18 there were at least 2,441 council employees who received total remuneration in excess of £100,000. That's 135 more than in 2016-17, and the highest number since 2013-14. 
  
• 607 council employees earned over £150,000.
  
• A total of 28 local authority employees received remuneration in excess of a quarter of a million pounds in 2017-18.
• The local authority with the greatest number of employees receiving remuneration in excess of £100,000 was Essex council with 55 employees in total earning over this amount. Essex also had the highest number of employees earning over £150,000 at 13.

The TaxPayers' Alliance (TPA) presents the Twelfth Town Hall Rich List, the only comprehensive list of its kind, with council-by-council breakdown. Praised in the past by politicians from across different political parties, it is the go-to guide for local government executive pay deals. It details the full remuneration and many of the names of all local council employees whose remuneration exceeds £100,000. This report comes as most households in the UK are being forced to pay more in council tax this year.

Many senior managers at local authorities have performed well in tough financial times. There are many reports of residents seeing no difference in the services they receive despite the necessary savings being made. However, the Town Hall Rich List also showcases the executives who have overseen failing departments, or received bumper pay-offs after poor performance in the job.

The research is a vital tool for taxpayers wanting to judge which authorities are delivering the best value for money.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REPORT

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD COUNCIL BY COUNCIL BREAKDOWN OF DATA

John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said:

“The average council tax bill has gone up by more than £900 over the last twenty years and spending has gone through the roof. Disappointingly, many local authorities are now responding to financial reality through further tax rises and reducing services rather than scaling back top pay. Despite many in the public sector facing a much-needed pay freeze to help bring the public finances under control, many town hall bosses are continuing to pocket huge remuneration packages, with staggering pay-outs for those leaving their jobs.

"There are talented people in the public sector who are trying to deliver more for less, but the sheer scale of these packages raise serious questions about efficiency and priorities."

Regions

In the East Midlands:

• The local authority with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2017-18 was Northamptonshire with 19.
• The biggest remuneration package in this region was received by Northamptonshire’s Chief Executive - £277,000.

In the East of England:

• The local authority with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2017-18 was Essex with 55.
• The biggest remuneration package in this region was received by Basildon’s Chief Executive - £265,398.

In London:

• The local authority with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2017-18 was Hackney council who paid 28 employees over £100,000.
• The biggest remuneration package in this region was received by Wandsworth’s Chief Executive - £294,805.

In the North East:

• The local authority with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2017-18 was County Durham with 17.
• The biggest remuneration package in this region was received by Northumberland’s Chief Executive - £413,492.

In the North West:

• The local authority with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2017-18 was Cheshire East with 19.
• The biggest remuneration package in this region was received by Wirral’s Managing Director for Delivery - £569,423.

In Northern Ireland:

• The local authority with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2017-18 was Belfast City Council with six.
• The biggest remuneration package in this region was received by Belfast’s Chief Executive - £162,250.

In Scotland:

• The local authority with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2017-18 was North Lanarkshire with 28.
• The biggest remuneration package in this region was received by Perth & Kinross’s Senior Deputy Chief Executive - £332,951.

In the South East:

• The local authority with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2017-18 was Kent with 24.
• The biggest remuneration package in this region was received by Slough’s Interim Chief Executive - £595,077.

In the South West:

• The local authority with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2017-18 was Dorset with 16.
• The biggest remuneration package in this region was received by Bath and North East Somerset’s Strategic Director of resources - £424,250.

In Wales:

• The local authority with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2017-18 was Cardiff with 17.
• The biggest remuneration package in this region was received by Blaenau Gwent’s Lead Corporate Director - £382,950.

In the West Midlands:

• The local authority with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2017-18 was Birmingham with 28.
• The biggest remuneration package in this region was received by Birmingham’s Strategic Director of Major Programmes and Projects, Corporate Resources - £444,775.

In Yorkshire and the Humber:

• The local authority with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2017-18 was Leeds with 19.
• The biggest remuneration package in this region was received by Bradford’s Chief Executive - £228,489.