Water bills to rise again ... as fat cat boss pockets £378,000
SCOTS face years of inflationbusting increases in their water bills – after the quango fat cat in charge of keeping the taps on received a total pay packet of £378,000 last year.
Scottish Water is planning six years of annual rises to household bills of around four per cent.
For families in larger houses, that will mean a water bill of almost £1,000 a year.
Douglas Millican, chief executive of Scottish Water, was already one of Scotland’s highest paid quangocrats.
According to Scottish Water’s annual report, in 2020-21 he received an astonishing £92,000 bonus – more than three times the average Scottish salary – meaning his overall pay soared by more than 20 per cent.
In total, senior executives awarded themselves £227,000 in incentive-related payments.
John O’Connell, chief executive of the Taxpayers’ Alliance group, said: ‘Self-serving behaviour like this will land quango bosses in hot water.
‘Many will wonder why they should enjoy ludicrous pay and perks while taking loans from the taxpayer.’
Scottish Water’s report also reveals it has received £4.1 billion in taxpayer-funded Scottish Government loans, and has £570 million in the bank.
Despite this, it is planning price rises of the CPI rate of inflation, plus an extra 2 per cent, which it forecasts will be about 4 per cent each year. Families living in an average council tax Band D property currently pay £459.18 for their water, and would see this rise by £18.37 to £477.55 in 2022-23.
However, those in a Band H home, who currently pay £918.36, will face a £36.73 increase to £955.09.
Miles Briggs, Scottish Tory local government spokesman, said: ‘It does not appear appropriate for highpaid executives of publicly owned Scottish Water to enjoy significant bonuses when taxpayers face increasing water rates.
‘Struggling businesses and the general public will be wondering how this can be justified during what is already a challenging financial period for many.’
Scottish Water declined to be drawn on Mr Millican’s pay, but said cash reserves were largely committed to future infrastructure projects.
A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: ‘Scottish Waterhas to compete with the private sector to secure and retain suitably qualified and experienced personnel to operate the business and deliver the improvements directed by the Scottish Government.
‘The current remuneration package is significantly smaller than that paid by comparable utilities, both interms of salary and bonus incentives.’