Liberal Democrats express concern at Increasing County Council Salaries

3.05.51pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 24th Jul 2008

Liberal Democrats on Suffolk County Council today revealed figures showing that the Tory administration has presided over a huge increase in the number of top-earners at Suffolk County Council.

Since the Conservatives took over the administration three years ago the number of employees (excluding those working in schools) earning over £50,000 p.a. has increased by 41% - from 99 to 169 - with the number in the £50-£60k pay bracket having almost doubled in three years from 58 to 108. Overall the cost of top-earners (including schools) at the County Council has increased from £15m to £25m in three years.

The news comes in the same week that the Audit Commission published its report - Tougher at the Top? - which raised concerns that recruiting Chief Executives from an ever shrinking pool is driving up salaries in Local Government. The report found that over a three-year period, the number of vacancies at single tier authorities and county councils filled by a chief executive from another authority more than doubled: from nine in 1999-2001 to 21 in 2005-2007.

Commenting on these figures Group Leader Kathy Pollard said, "We are concerned that at a time when many hard working families are feeling the pinch and lower paid staff at the council have been protesting at a pay rise of 2.45%, the number of staff earning over £50,000 has increased dramatically. The Tories came to power claiming they were the more efficient party and would create a leaner council, clearly the taxpayers of Suffolk have been let down."

Deputy Leader Andrew Cann added, "The Tories promised an efficiency programme which would make savings of £150m over 6 years. It concerns me that what they seem to have done is quite the opposite - increasing the salary bill whilst cutting essential services. Bus Routes, road repairs, and services to the vulnerable have been cut whilst salaries have risen.

Of course we need the best staff to run services in Suffolk, but that has to be balanced against the cost of the taxpayer. The shambles the Tories made over increasing the top level of the salary for the Chief Executive's post to £220k was the icing on a very expensive cake!"