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Eric Pickles to give councillors top pay vote Eric Pickles to give councillors top pay vote
(about 2 hours later)
Local authorities in England planning to pay employees more than £100,000 will have to seek the approval of councillors in a vote, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has said.Local authorities in England planning to pay employees more than £100,000 will have to seek the approval of councillors in a vote, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has said.
Mr Pickles said this would ensure pay packets were "democracy proofed".Mr Pickles said this would ensure pay packets were "democracy proofed".
The Communities Secretary intends to amend the Localism Bill which is being discussed in the Commons. The communities secretary intends to amend the Localism Bill which is being discussed in the Commons.
It comes as research showed 43% of council chiefs got paid more than £150,000 last year. It comes as research showed 43% of council chiefs were paid more than £150,000 last year.
Mr Pickles said councils needed to be sure "they didn't sully their reputation by taking decisions behind closed doors" and "reward chief executives when they should be focusing resources on protecting front-line services". Mr Pickles said councils needed to be sure they did not reward chief executives at a time of spending constraints, when they should be focusing on protecting front-line services, and did not take decisions "behind closed doors".
He added: "The changes we are introducing will mean that local government jobs will now have to be 'democracy proofed' before mega-salaries are paid out. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "This is just part of the checks and balances so that it allows every councillor to consciously make a decision with regard to senior pay.
"I think the democratically elected leaders of any council should make sure they have their say on pay and that £100,000 is the place to start that." "It just seems to me to be a reasonable thing to do."
He denied suggestions by Steve Bullock, the mayor of Lewisham who is also on the Local Government Association, that the plan would include head teachers.
"Head teachers are not caught up in this because they are employed by the council," Mr Pickles said.
He argued local government jobs would have to be "democracy proofed before mega-salaries are paid out".
Transparency agendaTransparency agenda
He went on to say the Localism Bill was "one of the most radical pieces of legislation to be debated in this chamber for decades". But Mr Bullock said: "We're in agreement on the need for full public transparency and scrutiny. I'm not sure a council debate - and I hate to say this, but I've sat through a lot of council debates and they're not necessarily the most edifying spectacle."
Mr Pickles went on to say the Localism Bill was "one of the most radical pieces of legislation to be debated in this chamber for decades".
"It is a triumph for democracy over bureaucracy that will fundamentally shake up the balance of power in this country.""It is a triumph for democracy over bureaucracy that will fundamentally shake up the balance of power in this country."
As a result of the new measures, councils will have to prepare and publish a statement setting out the authority's policy on the remuneration arrangements of its chief officers.As a result of the new measures, councils will have to prepare and publish a statement setting out the authority's policy on the remuneration arrangements of its chief officers.
Big bonuses and above-inflation annual pay rises could also have to be included.Big bonuses and above-inflation annual pay rises could also have to be included.
When councils want to depart from their senior pay policy statement - which authorities will be required to follow when setting senior pay - they will need to refer back to the full council for a vote.When councils want to depart from their senior pay policy statement - which authorities will be required to follow when setting senior pay - they will need to refer back to the full council for a vote.
As part of the coalition's transparency agenda, councils have already been compelled to publish receipts for any expenditure over £500.As part of the coalition's transparency agenda, councils have already been compelled to publish receipts for any expenditure over £500.
Last year Mr Pickles called for council chef executives earning over £200,000 to take a 10% pay cut. Last year Mr Pickles called for council chief executives earning more than £200,000 to take a 10% pay cut.
He urged those earning £150,000 - which is more than the Prime Minister's current salary of £142,000 - to take a 5% pay cut.He urged those earning £150,000 - which is more than the Prime Minister's current salary of £142,000 - to take a 5% pay cut.
What do you think of plans to these plans? Will this ensure that staff salaries are "democracy proofed"? You can send us your views using the form below.What do you think of plans to these plans? Will this ensure that staff salaries are "democracy proofed"? You can send us your views using the form below.