Rich list row over East Dunbartonshire Council’s highest paid

The latest ‘Town Hall Rich List’ has been compiled by pressure group Taxpayers’ Alliance, a right-wing pressure group founded in 2004 by a group of ‘libertarian’ Conservatives campaigning for a low-tax society.

However, the list has been branded “inane and distasteful” by the members’ network Solace, which represents chief executives in local government across the UK.

Data published by the Taxpayers’ Alliance reveals the highest paid employee at East Dunbartonshire Council in 2018-19 received a salary of £127,520 – £45,600 more than the salary of an MP.

It formed part of a total remuneration package of £152,130 paid to the staff member, who was the council’s chief executive during that period.

On top of the six-figure salary, the employee benefited from £24,610 in employer’s pension contributions.

East Dunbartonshire Council did not disclose the full name of the council worker.

According to the figures, two other employees at East Dunbartonshire Council also received six figure salaries in 2018-19.

Nationally, 2,667 people employed by local authorities received more than £100,000, an increase of 226 compared to 2017-18 and the highest number since 2013-14.

It meant the average number of employees receiving the sum rose to 6.9 per local authority, up by one compared to the previous year.

A total of 32 local authority employees received remuneration in excess of a quarter of a million pounds in 2018-19 – four more than in 2017-18.

Gerry Cornes, Chief Executive of East Dunbartonshire Council, said: “Salaries of local government chief officials are matters of public record

and agreed nationally with the relevant trades unions and COSLA, on behalf of all Scottish councils.

“This defines the base salary structures for Chief Executives and other senior officers.

“East Dunbartonshire Council does not comment on individual employees.”

Council taxpayers in England saw the average charge for a Band D property in 2020-21 rise by 3.9% to £1,817, up from the 2019-20 figure of £1,750, while in Scotland the average rise was 4.5% and in Wales, 3.4%.

John O’Connell, chief executive of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said household budgets are being squeezed further through “crushing council tax rises.”

He added: “The coronavirus crisis means that frontline council services are more crucial than ever.

“There are plenty of talented people in local authorities who are focused on delivering more for less, but that is needed across the board. The country needs every council to cut out waste and prioritise key services without resorting to punishing tax hikes on their residents.

“These figures should shine a light on the town hall bosses who’ve got it right, but also allow taxpayers to hold to account those who aren’t delivering value for money at this critical time.”

Solace managing director Graeme McDonald said the TPA’s ‘rich list’ is “as innumerate as it is crass.”

“In recent weeks many council staff have been working all waking hours responding to the Covid-19 outbreak – they require our support and backing,” he said.

“At any time, council chief executives and their colleagues are responsible for delivering a variety of highly complex services. It is crucial councils have good quality people to deliver good quality public services.”