£50k council workers soar
The number of council workers earning £50,000 across the region has rocketed in the last decade, according to new figures released today.
The number of council workers earning £50,000 across the region has rocketed in the last decade, according to new figures released today.
More than four times as many staff take home the bumper pay packet at Wolverhampton City Council and more than 20 times at Walsall Borough Council than in 1997. Birmingham City Council employs more staff on packages worth £50,000 or more than any other local authority in the country, according to research by the TaxPayers' Alliance.
The council has 823 staff on more than £50,000.
The lobby group said the growing class of middle managers was eating up an increasing chunk of local households' tax.
In 1997 there were just seven workers earning more than £50,000 in Walsall, compared to 164 now. In Wolverhampton, the figure has jumped from nine employees to 38, while at Staffordshire County Council it has leapt from 24 to 317.
Dudley Borough Council now employs 150 workers on £50,000 or more compared to just 11 in 1997, while at Sandwell Borough Council the figure has jumped from 38 to 154.
Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said today: "With council tax doubling in the past decade, it's extremely disappointing that town halls have chosen to hire a new class of middle managers, many of whom are being paid more than MPs.
"Local authorities should study these findings."
Dudley Council spokesman Phil Parker said: "Of the 9,000 people employed by Dudley Council, excluding teaching staff, there are currently 49 members of staff whose salary exceeds £50,000. This includes the chief executive, directors, assistant directors and heads of service."
At South Staffordshire Council there were five workers earning £50,000 or more in 1997, compared to 12 now. Council leader Brian Edwards said: "Some of the figures do seem horrendous, but then the Government does keep on giving councils more and more to do."
