Over in Rochdale last year there was outrage when the Council wanted to increase its Chief Executive's salary, from a measly £130,000 a year to £170,000 a year, following an external review costing £27,000 – at a time of £45million cuts, 150 job losses and workers' pay rises being capped at just 1%.
It made national headlines, particularly because Rochdale Council was also in the news following the town's shocking child abuse scandal, and because Rochdale's poverty is almost worse than Salford's. In the end Rochdale Council did a U-turn and refused to pay Jim Taylor the £40,000 rise. He had to make do with £130,000.
Quite possibly peeved off with the puny wages, Taylor, who had only been Rochdale's Chief Exec since 2012, looked down from the hills and saw a new wallet busting opportunity in Salford, as it advertised its new Head of Paid Services at £150,000.
The role was re-structured in the wake of the departure of former £170,000 Chief Exec Barbara Spicer but sparked fury amongst Salford Council workers and those affected by the cuts earlier this year that she was to be replaced by another Fat Cat (see here).
Last week, following a `unanimous' decision by a five person Salford Council interview panel, which included Stewart and Tory opposition leader, Councillor Karen Garrido, Jim Taylor was handed the job – and the appointment of the new `Council Director' will be a rubber stamped at a special meeting of Salford City Council tonight.
Perhaps Taylor's greatest achievement at Rochdale was overseeing the Council's move to its gleaming new £50million offices (complete with unisex toilets that workers refused to use) while hacking back public services. Which makes him a perfect fit for Salford…
"The attraction of this role is Salford's status as a proud city with a rich culture and heritage and a huge opportunity for growth and development" says Jim Taylor "Salford has tremendous potential, with a new system of governance, a thriving university and the home of MediaCityUK which is bringing jobs, an increased public profile, investment and opportunity to the city…I am really excited about helping to realise the city's full potential, even in times of austerity."
Salford Mayor, Ian Stewart adds that "Jim is one of the new generation of dynamic local authority leaders…and seen as one of the leading lights behind the reform of local government in these tough times for working people."
For `reform' read `privatisation of services'. And the £150,000 Fat Cat will face his first Salford `welcome' when hundreds of anti-cuts protesters converge on Salford Council's front lawn on May 17th for a demonstration against `reform of local government' ie cuts to public services...
(3).JPG)
(1).jpg)
.jpg)
(3).JPG)
(2).JPG)
(1).jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
(3).jpeg)
.png)
(1).JPG)
