A new report has revealed that 22 different council officers across the seven different Lincolnshire councils are earning more than £100,000 a year from their positions.
The highest earners in local government have been published in the annual town hall ‘rich list’ report, compiled by the Taxpayers’ Alliance for the 2017/18 financial year.
Some bosses elsewhere in the country were paid more than £600,000 and, in total, 608 council employees across the country earned more than £150,000.
The highest earner from Lincolnshire was the county council’s former chief executive, Tony McArdle, whose salary was recorded at £160,772. Mr McArdle left his job in February 2018. He was replaced by Keith Ireland, who then left the job himself after only a few months in November 2018.
Cllr Martin Hill, leader of Lincolnshire County Council said: “The county council has a relatively small senior management team for an organisation in charge of multi-million pound budgets providing services in the fourth largest county in England.
“In fact, we've reduced senior managers by 40% since 2011.
“We make sure that our salaries are competitive to attract and retain the best people for the roles.
“With one of the lowest council tax rates in the country, we are confident that our residents get good value for money.”
As well as salaries, the report also details other funds these employees receive, such as bonuses, compensations and expenses.
A strategic officer at South Kesteven District Council is revealed as having received ‘compensation’ amounting to £141,000 during that time.
Lincolnshire County Council had the most positions with employees paid more than £100,000 – with ten officers on the payroll exceeding that amount in total pay, which is basic salary and add-ons.
West Lindsey District Council had four positions paid that amount, as did South Kesteven.
East Lindsey District Council had two positions paid more than £100,000, while Boston Borough Council only had one. North Kesteven District Council had three officers who received more than £100,000.
John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “The average council tax bill has gone up by more than £900 over the last twenty years and spending has gone through the roof.
“Disappointingly, many local authorities are now responding to financial reality through further tax rises and reducing services rather than scaling back top pay.
“Despite many in the public sector facing a much-needed pay freeze to help bring the public finances under control, many town hall bosses are continuing to pocket huge remuneration packages, with staggering pay-outs for those leaving their jobs.
"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."
All Lincolnshire councils voted to increase council tax this year. East Lindsey District Council has raised tax by 3.62%, West Lindsey by 2.99%, City of Lincoln Council by 2.93%, North Kesteven by 3.1%, South Kesteven by 3.25%, Boston Borough by 2.99% and South Holland by 2.91%.
South Holland District Council are the only Lincolnshire authority not to feature on the report. This is because it shares a senior management team with Breckland council, who are the formal employers of the team. South Holland pays 40% of the salaries of these shared employees.
Breckland Council had four employees who were paid over £100,000 in 2017/18.
List of Lincolnshire’s top earning council officers (from highest earners):
This figure is only the job’s salary – it does not include the person’s expenses, bonuses, compensation or pension.
Tony Mcardle (Chief Executive, Lincolnshire County Council) - £160,772
Manjeet Gill (Chief Executive, West Lindsey District Council) - £145,148 (Gill stepped down from the position in 2017 and councillors subsequently voted to remove the role of chief executive)
Undisclosed (Lincolnshire County Council) - £142,500
Debbie Barnes OBE (Executive Director – Children’s Services, Lincolnshire County Council) - £132,140
Glen Garrod (Executive Director – Communities, Lincolnshire County Council) - £129,586
Peter Moore (Executive Director – Finance and Public Protection, Lincolnshire County Council) - £128,515
Angela Andrews (Chief Executive, City of Lincoln Council) - £118,487
Nick Borrill (Chief Fire Officer, Lincolnshire County Council) - £115,783
Ian Fytche (Chief Executive, North Kesteven District Council) - £112,161
Stuart Davy (Chief Executive, East Lindsey District Council) - £109,332. Davy has since been replaced by Rob Barlow after stepping down in October 2018.
Undisclosed (East Lindsey District Council) - £102,500
Aidan Rave (Chief Executive, South Kesteven District Council) - £97,000
Strategic Officers (South Kesteven District Council) - £94,000, £67,000, £94,000
Karen Bradford (Deputy Chief Executive, North Kesteven District Council) - £93,094 Bradford is now chief executive at Gedling Borough Council in Nottingham, she has been replaced by Philip Roberts.
Tony McGinley (Interim Director, Lincolnshire County Council) - £92,270
Strategic Director of Housing & Regeneration (City of Lincoln Council) - £91,221. This position is no longer held at the council.
Mark Sturgess (Executive Director of Operations, West Lindsey District Council) - £89,454
Ian Knowles (Executive Director of Resources, West Lindsey District Council) - £89,454
Eve Fawcett-Moralee (Executive Director of Economic & Commercial Growth, West Lindsey District Council) - £88,882
Philip Roberts (Corporate Director, North Kesteven District Council) - £87,568 Roberts is now Deputy Chief Executive at the council.
