Council has most staff paid £100k
THE top council officials in Wales are paid more than £1.8m between them.
The highest paid from 2019-20, was Cardiff Council’s chief executive, Paul Orders, who receives a total of £222,822 in salaries, pensions and expenses.
According to the Taxpayers’ Alliance, the council in Wales with the most staff paid over £100k in 2019-20 was Swansea Council with 17.
Wales has 22 councils and figures from the Taxpayers’ Alliance show that 153 staff across those councils receive more than £100,000 when their salary, pension and expenses are taken into account.
The 153 members of staff receiving more than £100,000 in 2019-20 is up from 139 the previous financial year (2018-19).
The average number of employees who received over £100,000 in total remuneration per local authority is seven. The average number receiving over £150,000 is 1.7 employees per council.
The top paid council officials across Wales, taking into account salary, pension and expenses are: ■ 1. Paul Orders – Chief executive of Cardiff Council
Mr Orders, who heads up Wales’s biggest local authority, receives a salary of £180,423 and pension of £42,399. Total: £222,822 ■ 2. Deborah Driffield Assistant director of children’s services at Cardiff Council
Ms Driffield, who is now Director of childrens’ social services, had a salary of £199,849 in 2019-20. She was appointed in October 2019 after previously being statutory director of social services in Swansea. Total: £199,849 ■ 3. Chris Bradshaw – Chief executive of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council
The chief executive of Wales’s third largest authority receives a salary of £151,000 and pension of £39,000. Total: £190,000 ■ 4. Christina Harrhy – Interim chief executive of Caerphilly Council
Caerphilly Council has just concluded a pay scandal which saw their former chief executive, Anthony O’sullivan, be paid £137,000 a year to stay at home. The total cost to the taxpayer of the scandal was between £4m and £6m. His successor Ms Harrhy receives a salary of £143,949 and pension of £30,949. Total: £174,898 ■ 5. Colin Everett – Chief executive of Flintshire Council
The sixth biggest council is presided over by Colin Everett. He receives a salary of £136,548, pension of £37,687. Total: £174,235 ■ 6. Caroline Turner – Chief executive of Powys Council
Powys is Wales’s biggest council in terms of the area it covers. Ms Turner’s salary is £134,000 and pension of £37,000. She was appointed as Powys’ chief executive in 2018. Total: £171,000 ■ 7. Chris Lee – Corporate director resources & section 151 officer at Cardiff Council
Mr Lee holds the title of resources director but also chief financial officer (section 151 officer). His salary is £137,970 and pension of £32,423. Total: £170,393 ■ 8. Sarah Mcgill – Corporate director of people and communities at Cardiff Council
Ms Mcgill has a salary of £137,970 and pension of £32,423. Total: £170,393 ■ 9. Steven Phillips – Chief executive of Neath Port Talbot Council
Mr Phillips has now been replaced by Karen Jones. He had a salary of £142,485 and pension of £25,647. Total: £168,132
John O’connell, chief executive of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said: “Taxpayers facing huge and hated
council tax rises want to know they are getting value for money from their local authority leadership.
“At the onset of the coronavirus crisis, thousands of town hall officials were taking home huge sums. While councils were plunged into tackling the pandemic, many staff will have more than earned their keep, but households have nevertheless struggled with enormous and unpopular council tax rises.
“These figures shine a light on the town hall bosses who’ve got it right, and will enable residents to hold those who aren’t
delivering value for money to account.”
A spokesperson for the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) said: “The Taxpayers’ Alliance’s latest attack on council workers is ill-timed and inaccurate.
“Countless dedicated council staff have been working all hours over the last year to respond to the deadly Covid-19 outbreak, with senior officers being instrumental in co-ordinating the local and national response. It is deeply regretful that the TPA’S sole priority at this time of extended crisis is to vilify a section of dedicated
workers who are doing all they can to help to halt the spread of the virus and protect lives.
“Councils in Wales are committed to meeting the senior pay transparency guidance produced by Welsh Government in addition to needing to refer any changes in chief officer pay to the Independent Remuneration Panel for approval.
“All produce pay policy statements which are fully published and can be found on local authorities’ websites. These are a far more accurate reflection of salaries in councils than set out in the TPA’S report.”