Council fat cats set for massive pay boost

4:26am Thursday 21st June 2007

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Town hall leaders are set for huge pay rises - with the county's best-paid official to earn more than £200,000 a year.

West Sussex County Council is looking at recommendations to increase the top end of wage brackets for the authority's chief executive, chief fire officer and other directors by a whopping 10 per cent.

Campaigners today labelled the move an insult and said it was further proof of a growing army of town hall "fat cats" growing rich on taxpayers' money.

The proposed increase means the chief executive at the council could expect to pick up a salary of up to £206,477 - almost £4,000 per week.

Meanwhile directors will earn between £119,306 to £144,213, and the chief fire officer between £98,536 and £124,354.

The increases will be recommended to councillors for approval in a report to be presented at a meeting of the council's governance committee next week. It also recommends the lower end of the wage brackets be increased by four per cent.

Matthew Elliott, the chief executive of the Taxpayers' Alliance pressure group, said: "Most people have only seen their wages rise by the rate of inflation this year, so it is disgraceful that these civil servants could enjoy pay rises of 10 per cent.

"Thousands of people are having to choose between heating their homes and paying their council tax bills. It's a complete insult that so much of their money goes down the drain on top salaries for council staff."

A council spokesman today said it was inappropriate to comment as the matter was set to be discussed at the meeting and no decision had been taken.

However, in justifying the recommendation, the document reads: "This report examines recent salary movements and proposes to increase the pay band to reflect those movements and current market.

"The pay band for directors needs to be reviewed regularly and stay competitive with the market to maintain stability in leadership and secure talented individuals."

If committee members agree the deal at the Monday meeting the recommendations will be passed to the full council for final approval.

Earlier this year The Argus revealed how campaigners claimed council tax rises were funding a burgeoning group of "fat cat" officials in Sussex.

The Taxpayers' Alliance used Freedom of Information legislation to publish a rich list of council staff. The pressure group went to 230 local authorities and asked for details of employees whose pay packets topped £100,000.

West Sussex County Council chief executive Mark Hammond was said to enjoy an annual wage of £188,202 - eclipsing the salary of Prime Minister Tony Blair - although the council disputed the figure.

The figures revealed a total of nine employees at West Sussex on six-figure salaries, while there were six "fat cats" at East Sussex County Council, with chief executive Cheryl Miller the top earner on £154,425.

Across the country, the total wage bill for the 578 people on the list was £72 million - compared with £53 million for those in the same bracket the previous year.