Introduction
Town Hall Rich List 2022 marks the 15th version of this research, first compiled in 2007. For the past 15 years the TaxPayers’ Alliance has assembled the most comprehensive list of council employees in the UK in receipt of over £100,000 in total remuneration in a single financial year.
For the average (band D) property, taxpayers in England will have to pay a council tax rise of 3.5 per cent, or an extra £68 per year in 2022-23. Wales will see an average increase of 2.7 per cent. All Scottish local authorities – apart from Shetland – will see an increase in 2022-23.
Against this background, the number of local authority employees receiving over £100,000 in total remuneration has risen to the highest level since 2013-14.
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Key findings
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At least 2,921 people employed by local authorities in 2020-21 received more than £100,000 in total remuneration, an increase of 119 on 2019-20. 739 received over £150,000, 46 more than the previous year.
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The average number of employees who received over £100,000 in total remuneration per local authority is 7.7. The average number receiving over £150,000 is two employees per council.
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The local authority with the greatest number of employees whose remuneration was in excess of £100,000 was Westminster council with 44 employees, nine more than the previous year.
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The highest remunerated council employee in 2020-21 was the now former chief executive of Croydon council, receiving £613,895 in total remuneration. This included a loss of office payment of £144,356, pension strain payment of £292,851, salary of £151,474 and a pension contribution of £25,214.
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The local authority to pay out the highest amount in terms of bonuses and performance related pay to a senior employee was Hambleton district council, with their chief executive receiving a £26,535 bonus.
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A total of 23 local authority employees received a loss of office payment of more than £95,000 – the former cap on payoffs for public sector employees – two more than the previous year. This cap was subsequently revoked and only partially covered the period of this year’s Town Hall Rich List.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE REPORT
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL COUNCIL-BY-COUNCIL DATASET
How you can help:
- Sign our petition calling for an end to council tax rises
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