The Worcestershire council bosses on six-figure salaries

Five employees at Worcester City Council are included on the Town Hall Rich List 2024, which has been published by the Taxpayers’ Alliance.

Executives at Worcestershire County Council, Malvern Hills District Council and Wychavon District Council are also named.

The county council paid top executives huge salaries even as it looks to cut the hours of hundreds of employees

The Taxpayers’ Alliance said the number of local authority employees receiving more than £100,000 in total remuneration has risen to the highest level since 2013-14.

This is against a backdrop of taxpayers in England facing a council tax rise of 5.1 percent for the average band D property.

The city council’s managing director picked up a basic salary of £122,006 plus a pension contribution of £35,162, making a total remuneration of £157,168 in 2022-23.

The council paid its director of resources a total of £118,209, director of homes and communities £118,176, deputy director policy and strategy £103,744 and its director of planning and governance £116,297.

Worcestershire County Council’s chief executive Paul Robinson was paid a basic salary of £188,526 plus a £35,337 pension contribution and another payment of £26,057 - this isn’t a bonus but a National Insurance contribution.

The county council’s director of economy and infrastructure, director of children’s services, director of commercial and change, chief financial officer, assistant director legal and governance, director of people and assistant director for human resources and engagement are also on the list.

There is also an undisclosed employee at Worcestershire County Council paid £102,500 in the past financial year.

Elsewhere in the county council, some 145 members of staff are set to have their hours cut as the authority looks to make savings.

The joint chief executive of Malvern Hills and Wychavon district councils took home a total of £170,007 and two other executives with roles across the two councils also appear on the list - the director of economy and environment and the director of communities and housing.

According to the Taxpayer’s Alliance, Wychavon’s deputy chief executive received £113,153 total remuneration and Malvern’s deputy chief executive £111,960.

A spokesman for Wychavon District Council said: “It’s important to recognise three of the four people on the list are working across two councils.

"Since 2016 our shared management arrangement with Malvern Hills District Council has saved millions of pounds and contributed to us being able to continue to invest in our communities, provide good quality services and freeze our share of the Council Tax bill for six of the last seven years.

"We continue to be committed to attracting talented people to come and work for us while delivering value for the taxpayer.”

Richard Taylor, assistant director for human resources, organisational development and engagement at Worcestershire County Council, said: "The council publishes its approach to the payment of our workforce via its Pay Policy Statement as required by the Localism Act as approved by full council.

"We remain committed to being open and transparent about pay and information on chief officer remuneration is available within our Pay Policy and our annual Statement of Accounts on our website.”

Worcester City Council declined to comment. We have also asked Malvern Hills to comment.