The number of middle management staff at Midlands-based councils that earn over £50,000, excluding pension contributions, has increased by 12% year on year, according to research by Taxpayers Alliance.
The Midlands councils’ spending uncovered report found that the number of middle and senior managers earning this remuneration package increased by 759 from 6,403 in 2009/10 to 7,162 in 2010/11.
The estimated total bill for local authority staff in the Midlands on £50,000-plus remuneration packages was over £465 million in 2010/11. This is an increase of more than 14% since 2009/10.
Nottinghamshire County Council paid 679 staff £50,000 or more in 2010/11, an increase of 202 employees from 2009/10.
Other findings from the report include:
- Warwickshire County Council and Worcestershire County Council cover very similar-sized populations, but Warwickshire had over four-times as many staff on £50,000 or more than Worcestershire.
- Nottinghamshire County Council and Derbyshire County Council also cover very similar-sized populations, but Nottinghamshire had nearly five-times as many staff on £50,000 or more a year as Derbyshire.
- Birmingham City Council spent nearly £37 million on employees who earn £50,000 or more in 2010/11.
- Leicestershire County Council, which covers nearly 400,000 fewer residents than Birmingham, spent nearly £35 million.
- Shropshire Council increased the number of staff on £50,000-plus by 95 in the last financial year, and the cost rose from £11 million to nearly £18 million.
- Sandwell Council’s spend on staff on £50,000-plus rose from £6.7 million to £11.4 million in 2010/11.
- North East Derbyshire District Council more than doubled its spend on staff on £50,000-plus in 2010/11.
Matthew Sinclair, director of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “It is not fair to demand that ordinary workers take a pay freeze or lose their jobs while more and more middle managers are enjoying generous remuneration.”
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