TaxPayers' Alliance reveals 2,314 council staff raked in more than £100,000
In 2015-16:
- At least 2,314 council employees received total remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2015-16.
- This is 89 more than the previous year.
- 539 council employees received total remuneration in excess of £150,000 in 2015-16.
- This is 53 more than the previous year.
The TaxPayers' Alliance (TPA) presents the tenth Town Hall Rich List, the only comprehensive list of its kind, with council by council breakdown. Praised in the past by politicians on both sides of the House of Commons, 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.
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 FOR A FULL COUNCIL-BY-COUNCIL BREAKDOWN OF THE TOWN HALL RICH LIST
Comparison of regions by number of employees earning more than £100,000
From 2014-2015 and 2015-2016
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 the number of people on six-figure deals actually going up since last year.
"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."
Further key findings of this research are:
- The local authority with the most employees in receipt of remuneration over £100,000 was Southwark with 44.
- There were 68 councils with at least 10 employees who received more than £100,000.
- The council employee with the largest total remuneration package in the UK in 2015-2016 is the Chief Executive of Sunderland Council, Dave Smith, at £625,570 (including pay-off of £185,470 and pension contributions of £331,414).
In the East Midlands:
- Leicestershire County Council had the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000, with 11.
- The individual who received the biggest remuneration package was John Sinnott, Chief Executive at Leicestershire County Council - £231,000.
In the East of England:
- Essex County Council had the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000, with 36.
- The individual who received the biggest remuneration package was Anna McCreadie, Director of Adult and Community Services of Suffolk County Council - £304,843.
In London:
- Southwark Borough Council had the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000, with 45.
- The individual who received the biggest remuneration package was Bruce McDonald, Chief Executive of Kingston upon Thames - £387,000.
In the North East:
- Durham County Council had the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000, with 20.
- The individual who received the biggest remuneration package was Dave Smith, Chief Executive of Sunderland City Council - £625,570.
In the North West:
- Lancashire County Council had the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000, with 32.
- The individual who received the biggest remuneration package was David McElhinney, Chief Executive of Liverpool City Council - £461,823.
In Scotland:
- North Lanarkshire had the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000, with 22.
- The individual who received the biggest remuneration package was Alistair Crichton, Executive Director of Finance & Customer Services, North Lanarkshire Council - £486,208.
In the South East:
- Kent County Council had the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000, with 26.
- The individual who received the biggest remuneration package was the Director of Community of Fareham Borough Council - £387,541.
In the South West:
- Cornwall County Council had the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000, with 15.
- The individual who received the biggest remuneration package was Peter Bungard, the Chief Executive of Gloucestershire County Council - £338,445.
In Wales:
- Cardiff City Council had the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000, with 16.
- The individual who received the biggest remuneration package was the Head of Housing, Public Protection & Environment of Wrexham County Borough Council - £323,622.
In the West Midlands:
- Birmingham City Council had the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000, with 23.
- The individual who received the biggest remuneration package was Sharon Lea, Strategic Director of Place at Birmingham City Council - £414,100.
In Yorkshire and the Humber:
- Leeds City Council had the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000, with 18.
- The individual who received the biggest remuneration package was Phil Morton, Chief Executive of Hambleton District Council - £397,967.
CLICK FOR A FULL COUNCIL-BY-COUNCIL BREAKDOWN OF THE TOWN HALL RICH LIST