2,921 council staff received more than £100,000 during covid pandemic

2,921 council staff received more than £100,000 during pandemic

As households across the country face council tax hikes, free market campaign group the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) today publishes its annual Town Hall Rich List, 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.

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.

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.

TPA chief executive John O’Connell, 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.”