Water bosses get huge bonuses...as bills set to rise

SCOTTISH WATER bosses have been handed hundreds of thousands of pounds in bonuses and allowances while taxpayers face soaring bills.

New figures show huge payments to senior executives as consumers are predicted to be charged above-inflation price rises for at least the next seven years.

A report published by Scottish Water indicates that chief executive Douglas Millican was awarded £93,000 for ‘incentive payments’ last year. Mr Millican donated his expected bonus this year to charity. Executive members Peter Farrer and Alan Scott were awarded incentives of £70,000 and £34,000.

The accounts show Mr Millican was paid a total of £310,000 in 2020.

The document points out that he ‘waived his entire AOIP [annual out-performance incentive payments] of £96,184 for 2019/20. Scottish Water donated an equivalent sum to the charity World Vision to support their global coronavirus emergency response to limit the spread of Covid-19 and reduce its impact on vulnerable children and families’.

Mr Millican also waived a £2,000 increase to his basic income. Mr Farrer’s combined pay and bonuses was £312,000, while Mr Scott’s was £250,000.

It comes after the Water Industry Commission for Scotland said that bills will have to increase by 2 per cent more than inflation every year to 2027. This could see bills double by 2040.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie said: ‘This shocking waste of public money will come as a slap in the face to millions of Scots who are staring down the barrel at spiralling water price increases.’

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Operational decisions are a matter for Scottish Water.’