Bumper pay boost for top council bosses

Saturday 20th March 2010, 11:00AM GMT.

A council leader today defended the huge salary hikes enjoyed by chief executives in the West Midlands.

The pay of the region’s top council officers has soared by up to 16 per cent in the past two years, it has emerged.

But Walsall Council leader Mike Bird insisted the role of its chief executive required a unique range of skills and experience that commanded a high wage.

“With this post comes a great deal of responsibility and it requires considerable commitment to ensure the council delivers across more than 800 services.”

Topping the Black Country salary league is Walsall’s chief executive Paul Sheehan whose wages have risen by 16 per cent to £189,533 since 2008.

At Birmingham City Council chief executive Stephen Hughes could receive £209,300 this year when his bonuses have been calculated – a £13,000 or seven per cent increase.

Nick Bell who takes over as Staffordshire County Council chief executive next month will receive £195,000 while Dudley’s John Polychronakis enjoyed a more modest rise of £9,700 bringing his pay up to £157,000.

Wolverhampton’s top executive Simon Warren receives just under £136,000 after increments of £8,000.

Allison Fraser, who is in Sandwell’s equivalent post, commands a £152,174 salary following a pay hike of just under £7,000.

This compares with the £105,000, up by £4,000, paid to Ian Miller, the chief executive of Wyre Forest District Council, and the £96,906 pay packet of the Lichfield District Council boss Nina Dawes who took a wage freeze last year.



Video News From ITN

Business Awards

Book a Business Awards table Book a Business Awards table

Join our celebrations of the region's best in business on Thursday March 22 - book your table now

Lifestyle

Interactive Dining Out map Interactive Dining Out map

Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.

entertainment

All the film reviews All the film reviews

Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases

OUR NEW APP

Get the new E&S app Get the new E&S app

Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.