Research reveals council rich list
THREE North West council executives earned more than the Prime Minister last year, research revealed today.
Despite seeing his pay drop 4.4% to £217,500 Colin Hilton, chief executive of
Liverpool City Council was the top earner in the region – although Manchester City Council refused to reply to the Freedom of Information request from the Taxpayers’ Alliance.
As well as Mr Hilton, Wigan council’s chief executive Joyce Redfearn and Kris Donaldson, marketing and commercial director at Liverpool City Council earned more than Gordon Brown’s £194,200 salary.
Ms Redfearn’s package during 2008/9 rose 2.4% to £200,891, while Mr Donaldson was paid £197,500.
The Taxpayers’ Alliance said the national average of council executives’ renumeration was £125,745, and despite the recession they had seen an average pay rise of 5%.
The pressure group said Liverpool City Council has 22 staff earning over £100,000 a year- more than any other metropolitan authority.
John O’Connell, policy analyst at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, which campaigns for lower taxes and better services said: “Town Hall bosses have had a very good recession at taxpayers’ expense.
“More of them than ever are earning massive amounts, and they even enjoyed a healthy pay rise while everyone else was suffering pay freezes, cuts or redundancies.
“Now that most councils are in financial trouble, these senior managers must take serious pay cuts to help make ends meet.”
Mr O’Connell said it appeared the Freedom of Information request – which was made in December -had been misplaced by Manchester City Council, as last year it had provided a full response.
