Town Hall Rich List 2022: 2,921 council bosses received more than £100,000 during covid crisis

Apr 06 2022

Embargoed: 00:01 Wednesday 6 April 2022

Town Hall Rich List 2022 finds the number of officials receiving more than £100,000 went up to 2,921 during the covid pandemic, with 739 getting more than £150,000.
The TaxPayers’ Alliance provides a council-by-council breakdown of local government executive pay deals.
With families now facing a cost of living crisis, the campaign group is calling on local authorities to stop council tax rises and cut wasteful spending.
Click here for frequently asked questions about the Town Hall Rich List.

As households across the country face council tax hikes, the TaxPayers' Alliance (TPA) today publishes its annual Town Hall Rich List, the only comprehensive list of its kind with a council-by-council breakdown of local government executive pay deals.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the number of council staff receiving more than £100,000 had increased by 119 to at least 2,921 people, the most since 2013-14. 739 of these received over £150,000, 46 more than the previous year and the highest number since the TPA began releasing the Rich List. Of the ten local authorities with the most employees receiving over £100,000, eight of them were London councils.

The former chief executive of Croydon council, Jo Negrini, received the highest remuneration of any council employee in the country at £613,895. This is despite the council effectively declaring bankruptcy in November 2020. Negrini left the council in September 2020, and received a loss of office payment of £144,356 and a pension strain payment of £292,851.

The 15th annual Town Hall Rich List is a vital tool for taxpayers wanting to judge which authorities are delivering the best value for money. This is especially important for residents facing the cost of living crisis, with council tax bills going up across the country.

The TaxPayers’ Alliance is calling on local authorities to stop rises and cut down on wasteful spending by scrapping pet projects and unnecessary pay rises for town hall bosses.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REPORT

Key findings:

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. It is also the highest number since 2013-14.
739 received over £150,000, 46 more than the previous year.
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.
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.

UK’s highest paying councils:

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.
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.
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.

CLICK HERE FOR A FULL COUNCIL BY COUNCIL BREAKDOWN

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

“Taxpayers facing a cost of living crisis want to know they are getting value for money from their local authority leadership.

“With households having suffered through the pandemic and now struggling under colossal tax bills, the country needs councils to prioritise key services without resorting to punishing tax hikes.

“These figures will allow residents to judge town hall bosses for themselves and hold their local councils to account.”

TPA spokespeople are available for live and pre-recorded broadcast interviews via 07795 084 113 (no texts)

Regional breakdown:

In the East Midlands:

For the second year running, the local authority with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2020-21 was Lincolnshire with 15.
The biggest remuneration package in this region was received by Northamptonshire's chief executive (head of paid service) - £282,000.

In the East of England:

For the eighth year running, the local authority with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2020-21 was Essex with 37.
The biggest remuneration package in this region was received by Essex's chief executive - £249,866.

In London:

For the second year running, the local authority with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2020-21 was Westminster with 44, nine more than the previous year. This authority had the most employees on over £100,000 in the country.
The biggest remuneration package in this region was received by Croydon's chief executive - £613,895. This individual was also the highest paid local council employee in the UK.

In the North East:

For the second year running, the local authority with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2020-21 was Northumberland with 20, seven more than the previous year.
The biggest remuneration package in this region was received by Northumberland's service director: adult services and community - £572,916.

In the North West:

The local authority with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2020-21 was Manchester with 24.
The biggest remuneration package in this region was received by Stockport’s executive director, adult social care and health - £440,927.

In Northern Ireland:

The local authorities with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2020-21 were Antrim and Newtownabbey, Ards and North Down, and Belfast, all with six each.
For the fifth year running, the biggest remuneration package in this region was received by Belfast’s chief executive - £170,288.

In Scotland:

For the second year running, the local authority with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2020-21 was Edinburgh with 29, one more than the previous year.
The biggest remuneration package in this region was received by Glasgow's executive director, City Building (Contracts) - £612,412.

In the South East:

The local authorities with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2020-21 were Kent and Hampshire, with 26 each.
The biggest remuneration package in this region was received by Hampshire's chief executive - £530,761.

In the South West:

The local authority with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2020-21 was Cornwall with 27.
The biggest remuneration package in this region was received by Cotswold district council's head of paid service - £232,789.

In Wales:

The local authority with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2020-21 was Cardiff with 14.
The biggest remuneration package in this region was received by Denbighshire’s chief executive - £280,189.

In the West Midlands:

For the fourth year running, the local authority with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2020-21 was Birmingham with 21, two more than the previous year.
The biggest remuneration package in this region was received by Sandwell’s executive director, neighbourhoods - £301,623.

In Yorkshire and the Humber:

For the fourth year running, the local authority with the most employees who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2020-21 was Leeds with 26, eight more than the previous year.
The biggest remuneration package in this region was received by Bradford’s chief executive - £228,350.

CLICK HERE FOR A FULL COUNCIL BY COUNCIL BREAKDOWN

TPA spokespeople are available for live and pre-recorded broadcast interviews via 07795 084 113 (no texts)

Media contact:

Danielle Boxall
Media Campaign Manager, TaxPayers' Alliance
[email protected]
24-hour media hotline: 07795 084 113 (no texts)

Notes to editors:

Founded in 2004 by Matthew Elliott and Andrew Allum, the TaxPayers' Alliance (TPA) campaigns to reform taxes and public services, cut waste and speak up for British taxpayers. Find out more at www.taxpayersalliance.com.
TaxPayers' Alliance's advisory council.
Click here for frequently asked questions about the Town Hall Rich List.
The TaxPayers’ Alliance analysis found that more than half of councils’ band D tax bills are now over £2,000.