Roller-coaster pay deal for council boss

THE top officer at Staffordshire Moorlands District Council was paid an extra £60,000 during the last financial year.

The authority's accounts show that chief executive Simon Baker received between £170,000 and £179,999 in the 12 months up to April this year. The accounts for 2006/07 show that the council's most senior officer was paid between £110,000 and £119,999.

The increase is equivalent to approximately £1,153 per week and took his weekly earnings to around £3,300.

The district council now says that the chief executive's scale of pay has been set between £142,000 and £154,000 for the current year, which is up to £28,000 less than the year before.

But officials have refused to reveal why Mr Baker's pay in the 2007/08 financial year went up from the top scale of £119,999 to £179,999, and who sanctioned the increase. A spokesman said: "We have fully complied with the regulations that cover the disclosure of senior officers' remuneration within the statement of accounts. It would be inappropriate to break down the details further.

"We can confirm that the chief executive scale of pay is now between £142,000 and £154,00 and is shared equally between the district council and High Peak Borough Council."

The latest accounts also show that several other senior officers were also given increases.

The second highest paid officer earned between £100,000 and £109,999, while the third received between £90,000 and £99,999.

Three officers were paid between £60,000 and £69,000, while four received between £50,000 and £59,999. The annual wage bill for staff at Moorlands House cost council tax payers more than £8.2 million in the last financial year.

In addition, £778,430 was paid by the council into the staff pension scheme, and more than £578,994 in National Insurance payments.

District council leader Sybil Ralphs said that since January this year the cost of the chief executive post had been split between the district council and the High Peak authority after they signed a strategic alliance under which Mr Baker is chief executive for both councils.

She said: "We share the chief executive costs. Therefore we have immediately saved £50,000 in the chief executive's salary. Any previous agreement was made under the former administration of the council."

Cheadle town councillor Ray Wood said: "It's completely ridiculous and at a time when the district council is supposed to be taking responsibility to save money it beggars belief. The current climate has made things difficult for everyone and this simply isn't fair."

Councillor Steve Povey said he knew nothing of the 2007/08 increase in Mr Baker's pay and was not consulted.

Steve Povey said: "I represent a lot of vulnerable people who are having sleepless nights worrying about paying their bills, and then we hear this.

"Last year officers were persecuting many vulnerable families who paid their council tax a day late."

Councillor John Fisher said: "The chief executive deserves every penny he earns but, if true, this new pay award involves many unanswered questions.

"As a member of the chief executive appraisal panel, I should know the exact amount being paid. I know nothing of this new award and when it was granted."

Linda Malyon, leader of the Staffordshire Independents, Ratepayers and UKIP Alliance on the district council, said: "No one should be allowed a rise above inflation. The council should be setting an example."

Labour leader on the council, Paul Robinson, said he was surprised at the scale of the rise.

He said: "I do not recall there having been a lot of dissent at the meetings."

Leek pensioner Clive Harrison said: "The people who approve these rises should remember we, the public, have to find the money.

"These rises should have been spent on Birchall playing fields, refurbishing toilets in the town or the car parks."

Leek resident Reg Davies said: "It is immoral to give someone such a large rise when people are under tremendous pressure to pay their bills and are being made redundant.

"There is a shortfall of £60,000 on the car parks.

"This money given to the officers would have helped to keep free parking in the Moorlands after 3.30pm."