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Westminster council revealed today that its 33 directors and department heads were paid up to £3,755,769 between them — an average of £113,811.
The highest earner is chief executive Mike More, who receives a basic salary of £200,379 plus a “deferred salary” or performance-related bonus — payable each April — of £22,264.
Mr More chose not to take the payment last year and is understood to be minded to do the same next month.
Twenty one of the officers can earn in excess of £100,000 if they receive their bonuses in full.
Mr More, finance director Barbara Moorhouse (up to £185,000) and customer services director Vic Baylis (£162,978) earn more than a Cabinet minister who gets £144,520.
The data, published on the council's website, shows which officials also benefit from a pension, lease car, private health insurance and annual season ticket loan.
These costs are not shown but the Standard understands that the council pays £235,000 a year for its fleet of cars and £220,000 a year on private health care.
Westminster is thought to be the first council in the country to reveal the salaries and bonuses earned by its top managers and is encouraging other councils to follow its example.
Normally senior salaries are only published well in arrears and without any obvious clues as to how much individual officers earn.
Graham White, Westminster's director of human resources, said: “We are pretty certain we are the first local authority to do this. Everyone else has run for cover on the subject of pay, and I think the more you hide it, the more confusing it becomes.
“We hope other public sector organisations will follow suit. There is nothing to be afraid of.” The council did not publish the salaries until all the affected members of staff agreed.
Paul Dimoldenberg, Westminster's Labour opposition group leader, said: “In principle it's a step in the right direction. It's right that the public should know what the highest-paid council earners are on, and all the perks that they enjoy.
"We have called for the bonuses to be scrapped during the current economic situation.”]
Westminster has an annual budget of almost £1 billion and has consistently set one of the lowest council tax rates in England. It says it has to pay “competitive salaries” to attract talented staff.
The Standard revealed last month that across London's 33 town halls, 498 officials took home more than £100,000 in 2008/09 — a 21 per cent increase on the previous year. There were also 12,231 council staff on more than £50,000.
Reader views (9)
Speechless.........there's a recession on for the rest of us.
- Cliff, London, 10/03/2010 13:58
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Err... under new rules coming into force on the 1st April ALL councils in England will have to publish this information. How do Westminster think it's their idea and how dare they demand that other Councils "follow suit"?!
- Kl, London, 10/03/2010 11:32
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Westminster is classed as one of the richest boroughs in London and tends to be frivolous with its money...the rich fatcats are fortunate enough to waive their performance bonuses for a year but what about the remaining employees who work the hardest to maintain its reputation yet are told they will not receive binuses due to there not being funds available for such awards...?
- Joanne, london, 10/03/2010 10:11
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With a budget of £1 Billion pounds I cant believe that we have to pay for parking and our roads have major potholes and problems everywhere, we should have the cleanest streets in the whole of london! Their salaries make me so angry, why does Mr Moore think he is so honorable for not taking the £22,000 bonus, he doesnt need it when he is earning over £200,000 a year of TAX PAYERS MONEY!
- Jorel, London, 09/03/2010 15:58
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I bet the 300 employees made redundant by WCC are really happy for them.... not.
- Edenphil, kent, 09/03/2010 14:26
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SICK, Jobs for the "good old boys club" again....
- Fred, London, 09/03/2010 12:58
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An obscene abuse of taxpayers money, just like TFL
- P Staker, London, 09/03/2010 12:27
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Now we know why the new parking cctv cameras have been set up.To pay for this bunch.
- Colin, barking essex, 09/03/2010 12:14
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I wondered why we need Council Directors and department heads; when most of the work done that used to be done by local councils, is now done by private contractors etc?
Do they look after the contractors, or do the contractors look after them?
- Mickinlondon, london, 09/03/2010 11:58
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