MAN WHO LEFT TOP JOB AT COUNCIL CLAIMED £38K EXPENSES IN JUST ONE YEAR

Former chief executive also earned £153k

THE former chief executive of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council claimed more expenses in one year than any other local authority officer in the country.

Simon Baker, below, who was the shared top officer at Staffs Moorlands and High Peak Borough Council, claimed £38,043 in expenses in 2019/20 – the highest amount in the UK according to a report from the Taxpayers’ Alliance.

The expenses claim was in addition to an annual salary of £153,975 and pension payments of £25,854 – meaning his total remuneration for the year was £217,872.

The UK’S second highest expenses claim was the £31,526 received by Dr Helen Paterson at Walsall Council. No other officer in the country claimed more than £20,000 over the year.

Mr Baker unexpectedly left his post last March, bringing to an end his 22 years at the district council.

It came at the same time as the assistant chief executive Mary Walker also left the council without explanation in March this year.

Twelve months on and the district council has still not revealed why the two top officers left their jobs within three days of each other.

A spokesperson for the authority said: “The figure quoted also includes election payments for both Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and High Peak Borough Council, which have operated as a strategic alliance for over a decade.

“In 2019/20, this included payments for the district, borough and parish council elections, the European election, and the general election in both council areas.

“Under the alliance, both councils have been sharing resources including staff, costs and efficiencies, which have achieved savings for council taxpayers of over £8m.

“We’ve delivered these savings whilst protecting the services our communities rely on.”

The TPA publishes its ‘Town Hall Rich List’ every year.

According to this year’s edition, at least 2,802 council workers received more than £100,000 in total remuneration in 2019/20 – an increase of 135 on the previous year.

This included 17 officers at Staffordshire County Council, and eight at Stoke-on-trent City Council.

John O’connell, chief executive of the TPA, said: “Taxpayers facing 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.”