St Albans council chiefs included in Town Hall Rich List for receiving more than £100,000
St Albans City and District Council offices. Picture: Danny Loo - Credit: Archant
St Albans district authority chiefs have been included in a list of the most highly paid council employees in the country.
Two St Albans district council (SADC) staff members have been included in the TaxPayers’ Alliance 12th annual Town Hall Rich List - a directory of all local authority staff who have received over £100,000 in the last financial year.
Taking into account both salary and remunerations such as pensions, the deputy chief executive of commercial and development at SADC, Richard Shwe, received £111,800 and the chief executive and head of policy at SADC, Amanda Foley, was given £122,300.
In last year’s Town Hall Rich List, Amanda received £103,200.
Chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, John O’Connell, 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.
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“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.”
The TaxPayers’ Alliance is a campaign group advocating for lower taxes. It has been compiling the Town Hall Rich List every year since 2007.
This year, there are at least 2,454 council employees around the country getting more than £100,000 - up by 148 for 2016/17 and the highest since 2013/2014.
There were 608 people earning more than £150,000.
A spokesperson from SADC said pay policy is agreed by councillors each year and can be found on the SADC website.
She said: “The costs quoted by the TaxPayers’ Alliance include salary and on-costs including pension, rather than salary alone.
“In fact, St Albans City and District Council’s chief executive is thought to be among the lowest, if not the lowest, paid council chief executive in Hertfordshire.”
