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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. | |
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 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 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. | |
"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 agenda | Transparency agenda |
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 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. |