by Callum McGoldrick, researcher
We have just released the 19th annual edition of our Town Hall Rich List (THRL). A complete database of every council employee receiving over £100,000 in total remuneration, THRL compiles every remuneration report from all of the councils in the UK. Here are the ten takeaways from this record-breaking year:
The number of council officials receiving over £100,000 has increased over six fold since the first THRL. The total number of council bosses receiving at least £100,000 stood at 3,906 in 2023-24. In the inaugural 2007 edition of THRL it stood at 578. The number receiving at least £150,000 has increased even more dramatically, up to 1,092 from 64 - a 17 times increase.
£375,000 in bonuses paid to council bosses. In the private sector, bonuses are paid following exceptional performances from staff who go above and beyond their expected roles. This year, Glasgow City council alone paid out £140,000 to bosses - are services really that good?
238 council bosses paid higher salaries than the prime minister. One argument often made in favour of high salaries for council execs is that, being a demanding job, we want to attract the best people. But is the job really harder than that of the prime ministers?
London tops the list. London, as usual, has topped THRL once again with 821 staff receiving at least £100,000 - up from 672 last year. Westminster had the most employees on the list nationally with 73.
Wandsworth with the highest salary. The chief executive of Wandsworth council, M Jackson, had the highest salary of any council boss this year at £281,443 - this is over seven times the UK’s average salary and almost £90,000 more than the prime minister.
Burnley were the only council with zero employees in the list. Burnley had no employees receiving over £100,000 last year.- Before breaking out the bunting it’s worth noting that two individuals held the top job. Combined their salary was over £100,000.
Just 15 councils failed to publish accounts. In a massive reduction from the 59 that failed to publish accounts for the previous year, councils’ accountants have rolled their sleeves up to get more accounts published on time - a welcome move towards the transparency that taxpayers deserve.
Bankruptcy problems blocking accounts. Unsurprisingly it is often the councils in financial trouble that have failed to produce their accounts. Bankrupt Birmingham, Croydon and Thurrock - as well as struggling Slough - are not on THRL due to a failure to produce accounts.
Golden goodbyes continue. In 2023-24, council bosses received over £5 million in compensation in loss of office payments. The largest of these being paid to a former strategic director at Castle Point at £469,000.
Taxpayers should always hold officials to account. We publish THRL each year as a transparency exercise. A key element of democracy is holding decision makers accountable. Given that these town hall bosses are not elected, scrutiny at the ballot box is not possible. But local councillors have to approve the top remuneration packages. It is key for taxpayers, and voters, to be aware of the pay packets being received. It is up to them whether this is delivering value for money.