The latest Town Hall Rich List has been published, showing how many council employees received more than £100,000 in 2022/23.
Collated by The TaxPayers’ Alliance, the figures showed that 73 employees of councils across East and West Sussex – not including Brighton & Hove – took home more than £100,000 in salary, pension and other expenses.
Of those, 18 pocketed more in total remuneration than the Prime Minister’s £164,951 salary entitlement. The full report is here.
No accounts were published by Eastbourne Borough Council, whose town hall is pictured top, Hastings Borough Council or Lewes District Council.
Eastbourne Borough Council has been approached, asking for the figures of how many staff are paid more than £100,000 a year.
East Sussex County Council
In 2022/23, Becky Shaw served as chief executive officer for both East and West Sussex County Councils.
She received £144,471 from East Sussex, including £21,590 pension, £211 expenses/benefits in kind and £16,723 for additional duties and acting up.
The West Sussex accounts also show payments of £163,681 were made to East Sussex for Ms Shaw’s services, including £40,911 of accrued expenditure.
Rupert Clubb, director of communities, economy and transport, received £189,839 including £27,899 pension and £6,340 expenses/benefits in kind.
Mark Stainton, director of adult social care, received £181,758 including £27,181 pension and £138 expenses/benefits in kind.
Philip Baker, assistant chief executive, received £181,673 including £27,188 pension and £10 expenses/benefits in kind.
The director of children’s services received £175,973 including £26,333 pension.
Chief operating officer (from April 4, 2022) received £168,672 including £25,214 pension and £195 expenses/benefits in kind.
Director of public health received £143,226 including £21,266 pension and £1,131 expenses/benefits in kind.
Chief finance officer received £127,715 including £19,114 pension.
Six payments totalling £645,000 and ranging from £102,500 to £117,500 were also made to employees, though no information was provided about the role involved.
A spokesman for the council said they were “unable to share further details about these positions due to data protection regulations”.
Wealden District Council
Trevor Scott, chief executive officer, received £168,578 including £25,347 pension and £180 expenses/benefits in kind.
Director of place received £114,979 including £17,093 pension, £180 expenses/benefits in kind and £200 bonuses.
Director of community received £106,667 including £15,879, £180 expenses/benefits in kind and £200 bonuses.
Director of governance and projects received £115,040 including £16,997 pension and £180 expenses/benefits in kind.
TaxPayers’ Alliance
John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “The new financial year has seen council tax soar across the country, and taxpayers will notice that top brass pay has simultaneously surged.
“Local authorities provide crucial services and residents will want to make sure they are getting bang for their buck with their ever-increasing bills.
“Residents can use these figures to ask whether precious funds are really going towards front-line services, or whether town hall bosses can get better value for money.”
Local Government Association
The Local Government Association pointed out that senior pay is decided by councillors.
A spokesman said: “Councils are large, complex organisations with sizeable budgets.
“It is important that the right people with the right skills and experience are retained to deliver this important work.”
:: This report was collated by Karen Dunn of the BBC-funded Local Democracy Reporting Service. The Eastbourne Reporter receives this service by meeting BBC criteria as a regulated news website with high journalistic standards.
And they can’t afford to employ enough people to clean our streets!