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How much are Council’s bosses costing taxpayer?

Peter Devine
2/ 4/2008

STOCKPORT Council’s top brass cost council tax payers a total of £570,000 in 2006/2007.

The results were revealed by The Ratepapayers Alliance which said it investigates "wasteful and frivolous" town hall spending.

The Alliance published details listing five top council officers in Stockport on a salary of more than £100,000. The list shows that the group earned a total of £10,941 a week before tax.

The highest earner was Stockport Council’s chief executive, John Schultz, who earned a total (before tax) of £145,707 (£2,802 weekly). Mr Shultz’s pay contrasts with the leader of Trafford Council, which pays its chief executive a total of £143,591, and Rochdale, which pays its top officer £136,343.

Second at Stockport was the corporate director for adults and communities, and deputy chief executive, Ged Lucas, who earned a package amounting to £110,303 (£2,121 weekly).

The borough’s corporate director of business services, Steve Houston, earned £105,388 (£2,026 weekly).

The authority's corporate director of children and young people, Andrew Webb, had a pre-tax package of £105,362 (£2,026 weekly).

Elaine McLean the corporate director for the environment and economy received a gross package of £103,357 (£1,987 weekly).

All the packages included basic salaries, travel expenses, and leased car allowances.

A spokesman for Stockport Council said: "The five senior council officers who earned over £100,000 did so because they occupy very large jobs and they manage a budget of almost £500million. They are paid well below the top earners in local government. In fact, they are paid at the middle point for council employees with jobs of that size.

"As for value for money, the Council is happy to leave that judgement to independent people. The independent Audit Commission has given the Council the top performance rating (4 stars) for three years running, and recently said that the Council provides good value for money."