Steve Thomas CBE said:
‘This is once again an example of crude and simplistic reporting by the Taxpayers Alliance. Councils are responsible for delivering a large proportion of the Welsh Government’s budget. They deliver vital public services, including education, social services and environmental health. Council chief executives and senior staff are in charge of big businesses and are responsible for managing budgets worth millions that can have an enormous impact on people’s everyday lives.’
‘Councils act responsibly in setting the pay levels of their senior staff and have implemented successive annual pay freezes since the last nationally negotiated salary increase in 2008. Additionally, in more than one instance, senior staff have agreed to take a pay cut to help manage their council’s budget deficit.’
‘The salaries highlighted by the Tax Payers Alliance report are entirely appropriate for the levels of responsibility attached to the most senior posts in local government. Over the last decade or so, the complexity of work within local government has increased considerably. This development has been coupled with almost constant re-structuring which has seen senior management teams reduce from around 10 to 3 or 4 Directors, with departments brought together to cut costs and increase efficiency. The level and breadth of responsibility of the remaining senior posts is obviously greatly increased as a consequence. They manage and are responsible for an enormous amount of risk.’
‘A competitive salary is vital if we are to attract candidates of the highest calibre to demanding and vital public roles and deliver continual improvement in Wales’ public services.’
