ABC Council high earners revealed

Analysis by pressure group The TaxPayers’ Alliance, has a council by council breakdown detailing all employees whose remuneration exceeds £100,000.

The Town Hall Rich List 2020 shows Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council’s Chief Executive, Roger Wilson, is the Council’s top earner, with a total remuneration of £139,825.

This is made up of salary of £117,500 and £22,325 in pension contributions, says The TaxPayers’ Alliance.

The Council’s Director of Place, Olga Murtagh, and Director of Position, Sharon O’Gorman, each earned £110,075 respectively.

Both directors received a salary of £92,500 and  £17,575 in pension contributions according to the figures published by The TaxPayers’ Alliance.

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council’s Director of Performance, Sharon McNicholl also earned over £100,000 in the 2018-19 financial year.

The TaxPayers’ Alliance state Ms McNicholl earned a total of £104,125.

She received a £87,500 salary and £16,625 in pension contributions according to the figures published by The TaxPayers’ Alliance.

The Town Hall Rich List is part of The TaxPayers’ Alliance drive to improve transparency and accountability for local authorities, by letting the public see exactly what senior staff at council offices across the UK are being paid.

All data in the publication is sourced from councils’ statements of accounts which are publicly available, the campaign group says.

Speaking about the salaries of its senior staff, a spokesperson for Armagh City Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council said: “The Chief Executive’s salary band for Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council was set regionally by the Joint Negotiating Committee.

“The Strategic Directors’ salaries were independently evaluated and are in line with that determined by the National Joint Council for Local Government Services.”

Reflecting on the rate of remuneration across councils in Northern Ireland, the TaxPayer’s Alliance grass roots campaign manager, Harry Done said council’s need to “maximise spending on frontline priorities”.

“The number of senior executives paid over £100,000 has stayed steady, but the council’s decision makers still need to ensure they are doing whatever they can to cut down on waste, maximise spending on frontline priorities and keeping rates down,” he said.

“But rates are surging across Northern Ireland and the public expects the extra tax they’re paying to be spent on delivering better services. Every council needs to cut out waste and prioritise key services without resorting to punishing tax hikes on their residents.”

The Chief Executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, John O’Connell said: “The coronavirus crisis means that frontline council services are more crucial than ever, but at the same time household budgets face an enormous squeeze.

“There are plenty of talented people in local authorities who are focused on delivering more for less, but that is needed across the board.

“The country needs every council to cut out waste and prioritise key services without resorting to punishing tax hikes on their residents.

“These figures should shine a light on the town hall bosses who’ve got it right, but also allow taxpayers to hold to account those who aren’t delivering value for money at this critical time.”

The TaxPayers’ Alliance’s Town Hall Rich List 2020 can be found at https://www.taxpayersalliance.com/town_hall_rich_list_2020

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