Pay packet of top boss at West Midlands Combined Authority set to be increased in bid to find ‘calibre of person needed’
The pay packet of the top boss of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is set to be increased in a bid to find the ‘calibre of person needed’.
Members of the WMCA Board are expected to rubber stamp a hike in the pay range of the chief executive role, which is currently vacant, when it meets on Friday, January 16.
The current salary for the position stands at £180,000 to £215,000 and this will go to £197,825 to £250,000 if approval is granted.
A report to the board said this will put the salary on a level paid by similar combined authorities elsewhere in the country.
West Yorkshire Combined Authority offers a flat £197,825 while Liverpool City Region Combined Authority offers a minimum of £205,304 and a maximum of £229,209.
Greater Manchester Combined Authority offers a minimum of £220,000 and a maximum of £250,000 to its chief executive.
A new permanent chief executive is yet to be appointed following the departure of the previous CEO Laura Shoaf, who stepped down in June.
Deputy chief executive Ed Cox stepped in as interim and, in October last year, this arrangement was extended for another six months after board members were told the recruitment process had failed to find a suitable candidate.
They were also recommended to approve an increase in the wage being offered because the existing one was ‘too low to attract the calibre of candidates needed’.
The report said: “The current pay range for the Chief Executive is from £180,000 to £215,000 per annum.
“An extensive benchmarking exercise was carried out, identifying the current pay range was lower than at comparable combined authorities, making the Chief Executive post less attractive to the calibre of person needed.
“A benchmarking exercise was carried out to ensure West Midlands Combined Authority’s senior pay structures remain competitive and aligned with sector standards.
“The benchmarking exercise was undertaken to compare remuneration levels across other Combined Authorities.
“This approach enables WMCA to maintain parity with peer organisations, attract and retain high calibre leadership talent, and uphold our reputation as a high performing and forward-thinking employer.
“In an ambitious, trailblazing Combined Authority, where strategic leadership is critical to delivering complex regional priorities, it is essential that our reward framework reflects both market conditions and the value of senior roles.
“Regular comparison also supports transparency and accountability, reinforcing public confidence in our governance and stewardship.
“It is proposed that the increase to the pay range be agreed with immediate effect in order that recruitment can commence and the post advertised at the higher pay range.
“The recommended pay range for the Chief Executive is £197,825 to £250,000 per annum, inclusive of the agreed 3.2 per cent pay award for 2025-26.
“The pay range is aligned with the minimum and maximum levels of the three most comparable Combined Authorities.”
