SALFORD CITY COUNCIL'S FAT CATS, COUNCILLORS AND EXECUTIVES…
Yes the people of Salford have overwhelmingly put their thumbs down to the Council's Fat Cats, Executives and Councillors. In Salford Council's annual Big Listening Survey, sent to 7000 random homes, 1290 people responded to the question: Do you have any ideas on how Salford City Council should cut its spending?
According to a Salford City Council report, three of the top four suggestions were `Reduce/freeze pay/salaries for executive staff/managers/councillors; cut unnecessary staff/reduce inefficiency; and reduce numbers of executives/councillors/managers/fat cats'.
Last June, Salford Star (see here for full details) reported that a total of 253 Council staff earned over £50,000, compared to 242 staff in 2008-9. Figures also showed 19 people at the Council earned over £85,000 compared to 13 people last year, while top earner is Chief Executive Barbara Spicer, who pulled in £201,329 including pension contributions.
As well as top earner, Barbara, next highest earner was Alan Westwood, Strategic Director of Customer and Support Services, with a whopping £133,593 including pension contributions.
Next up is the Strategic Director of Community, Health and Social Care, Sue Lightup, who pockets £133,803 including pension contributions, followed by Strategic Director of Regeneration, Paul Walker, who pulled in £131,412 including pension contributions and a £5,855 `expense allowance'.
Barbara Spicer's Assistant Chief Exec, Kevin Brady, earned £125,592 including pension contributions, yet in the previous year the role was only worth £114,227 including pension contributions. That's a pay hike of over £10,000.
On top of the Council's actual highly paid execs, there's all the consultants brought in to work on stuff that you'd think that Council staff should be well capable of doing given their huge salaries. Our faves are the `Efficiency Consultants' brought in at up to £1900 a day, as revealed by the Salford Star in July (click here). Oh, and there's also over £900,000 of councillors' allowances and expenses (click here)…
Yes, the people of Salford have spoken (well, 18% of a 7000 sample) and, yes, they want a financial cull on fat cats, councillors and execs. But will this happen – given that the people who will make the decision on the cutbacks are the councillors, advised, we're sure, by the fat cats and execs?
Ladies and Gentlemen. THE HANG THE FAT CATS AWARD goes to…
SALFORD CITY COUNCIL'S FAT CATS, COUNCILLORS AND EXECUTIVES…
Applause.
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