Doncaster Council pays £2.1 million to staff and the top boss earns more than the PM

Data from Doncaster Council and the ring-wing pressure group Taxpayers’ Alliance, shows new chief executive Damian Allen earns a basic salary of £164,000, with a pension contribution of £21,523 a year.

Riana Nelson, director of learning and opportunities, who is responsible for education and the council’s end of children’s services, earns £124,000 in salary with a £18,840 pension contribution.

Peter Dale, director of economy and environment, who is responsible for areas such as waste, fly-tipping, development, highways and housing, is paid £124,000 along with a £18,387 pension top up.

Debbie Hogg, who is in charge of legal, finance, IT and HR in her director of corporate resources role, is also paid £124,000 with a pension contribution similar to Mr Dale’s.

Director of adults, health and wellbeing Phil Holmes, whose main responsibility is adult social care, earns £124,000, with a similar pension top up to those on the same basic salary.

And Dr Rupert Suckling, director of public health, earns £93,000 in basic salary and a pension contribution of £14,424.

A further 13 members of staff, mainly assistant directors to departments, all earn £93,000 in basic salary.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson receives a basic salary of just more than £150,000.

SOLACE managing director Graeme McDonald, who represents the group of council chief executives in the UK, said the TPA’s so-called rich list is ‘as innumerate as it is crass’.

He said: “In recent weeks, many council staff have been working all waking hours responding to the Covid-19 outbreak – they require our support and backing.

“At any time, council chief executives and their colleagues are responsible for delivering a variety of highly complex services.

“It is crucial council’s have good quality people to deliver good quality public services.”

John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, 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 from crushing council tax rises.

“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.”

Jill Parker, council assistant director of HR, communications and the executive office, said the gap between the highest and lowest paid employee is closing every year and it was ‘vital’ the council had the ‘right skilled and experienced people’ in those positions.

She said: “Our senior management levels are continually reviewed as we re-shape services and considerable savings have been delivered over recent years with approximately 50 per cent reduction in salary costs at head of service level and above, with leadership posts equating to one per cent of overall staff numbers.”