Responding to the Communities and Local Government Committee's report, Local government Chief Officers' remuneration, Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:
"The Committee is spot on in saying that excessive pay for senior officials destroyed taxpayers' trust in local government. When rank-and-file council staff have seen their pay frozen, it is downright immoral for town hall tycoons to enjoy salaries entirely detached from financial reality. Though recent pay restraint is welcome there are still more than 2,000 council staff on taxpayer-funded six-figure salaries, and that number must come down."
On the Committee's specific calls for more stringent appraisal processes and increased transparency around golden goodbyes, he continued:
"It's absolutely crucial that taxpayers are able to see whether they're getting value for money from officials on extraordinary salaries, so the Committee is right that councils must do a better job of appraising senior staff and ensuring poor performance isn't rewarded. It is right, too, that taxpayers are informed when generous golden goodbyes are handed out and the reasons for them. Money doesn't grow on trees; it belongs to taxpayers."
The TaxPayers' Alliance gave evidence to the Committee's enquiry, which can be found here.
In August, the TaxPayers' Alliance produced the eighth edition of the Town Hall Rich List, demonstrating that in 2012-13 there were 2,181 total remuneration of more than £100,000. Some 93 councils increased the number of individuals on the payroll with pay in excess of that figure. The Town Hall Rich List is the only way for taxpayers to compare pay between councils and across different regions. We are pleased that the Committee noted how important this is in their report (Paragraphs 18 and 20).
On the Committee's specific calls for more stringent appraisal processes and increased transparency around golden goodbyes, he continued:
"It's absolutely crucial that taxpayers are able to see whether they're getting value for money from officials on extraordinary salaries, so the Committee is right that councils must do a better job of appraising senior staff and ensuring poor performance isn't rewarded. It is right, too, that taxpayers are informed when generous golden goodbyes are handed out and the reasons for them. Money doesn't grow on trees; it belongs to taxpayers."
The TaxPayers' Alliance gave evidence to the Committee's enquiry, which can be found here.
In August, the TaxPayers' Alliance produced the eighth edition of the Town Hall Rich List, demonstrating that in 2012-13 there were 2,181 total remuneration of more than £100,000. Some 93 councils increased the number of individuals on the payroll with pay in excess of that figure. The Town Hall Rich List is the only way for taxpayers to compare pay between councils and across different regions. We are pleased that the Committee noted how important this is in their report (Paragraphs 18 and 20).
Please note the report and this release are embargoed until 00:01 Friday 12th September, 2014.
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Notes to editors
1. Founded in 2004 by Matthew Elliott and now with 80,000 supporters, the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) fights to reform taxes, cut spending and protect taxpayers. Find out more about the TaxPayers' Alliance at www.taxpayersalliance.com
2. The eighth edition of the Town Hall Rich List, published in August 2014, showed that 2,181 council officials enjoyed six-figure remuneration in 2012-13. That report can be found here: http://www.taxpayersalliance.com/campaign/2014/08/taxpayers-alliance-reveals-2181-council-staff-earning-100000.html
3. Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, gave oral evidence to the Committee's enquiry, which can be found here:http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/communities-and-local-government-committee/local-government-chief-officers-remuneration/oral/7769.html
2. The eighth edition of the Town Hall Rich List, published in August 2014, showed that 2,181 council officials enjoyed six-figure remuneration in 2012-13. That report can be found here: http://www.taxpayersalliance.com/campaign/2014/08/taxpayers-alliance-reveals-2181-council-staff-earning-100000.html
3. Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, gave oral evidence to the Committee's enquiry, which can be found here:http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/communities-and-local-government-committee/local-government-chief-officers-remuneration/oral/7769.html