How many people do you think working in Town Halls earn over £100,000 a year?
The TaxPayers’ Alliance analysis of councils last year shows that 2,759 council officials on £100,000 or more and 721 on £150,000 or more.
In parts of the country – including in Peterborough – these Town Hall bosses are likely to be some of the most highly paid people living there.
These salaries are often accompanied by generous pensions and flexible working arrangements, such as working from home.
This is taxpayers’ money. Transparency and accountability is needed. The number of people paid these salaries for Town Hall jobs has ballooned.
I am taking forward a private members’ bill that would give us this transparency.
The Local Government (Pay Accountability) Bill will mean councillors will have to vote and approve on new positions where Town Hall officers will be paid more than £100,000 a year.
Some councils do this in one form or another, but it is not mandatory. My bill would make this mandatory and if done transparently the public will see what positions are approved or not.
With the public asked to pay ever-increasing levels of council tax year after year, it is only right that they can make sure they are getting value for money from local leadership.
It is time to think of hard-pressed council taxpayers. It is time to think of those on fixed incomes such as pensioners.
Transparency leads to better decision making. It means that the public can challenge and suggest alternatives.
Last year saw a significant reduction in the number of councils publishing their accounts. 47 local authorities failed to disclose their bosses’ salaries compared to 25 the previous year in 2022.
When Peterborough City Council are preferring to axe lollipop ladies than tackle excessive salaries, we have a problem.
This will be a pattern repeated across the country and it is time to do something about it.
Paul Bristow is the Conservative MP for Peterborough
