Council rich list gets shorter

Responding to figures published by the Taxpayer’s Alliance (TPA) on local authority high earners, Blackpool Council said it’s chief officer team had reduced in size from 22 to single figures in that time.

The TPA data showed two employees took home more than £100,000 in 2015/16 although Blackpool Council said just one – chief executive Neil Jack – still works there.

According to the council website his salary is between £135,000 and £139,999.

Coun Graham Cain, cabinet secretary for Blackpool Council, said: “Since 2011 the number of chief officers at Blackpool Council has decreased from 22 down to single figures, with the number of staff being paid over £100,000 dropping from five to one.

“Compared to other unitary and upper tier authorities we have one of the lowest figures of chief officers earning over £100,000 in the country.”

Meanwhile Lancashire County Council – the third largest authority in the country –had 32 employees earning a six-figures sum in 2015/16, according to the TPA data.

No council in the North West had more.

However, bosses said the figures included pay-outs for those leaving the council.

Deborah Barrow, head of human resources for Lancashire County Council said there had been a ‘significant transformation’ at the council as part of efforts to cut costs.

She added: “As part of this process, some staff have left the council and therefore some of these figures include their redundancy payments.”

TPA chief executive John O’Connell said: “There are talented people in the public sector who are trying to deliver more for less, but the sheer scale of these packages raise serious questions about efficiency and priorities.”