Top salary earners at Harrogate council feature on campaign group's annual 'rich list'

The Taxpayers’ Alliance has this week published its annual Town Hall Rich List which details the salaries of all top earners at authorities across the country.

It shows Harrogate Borough Council's four highest paid staff members earned a combined total of around £383,357.

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The top earner was the council's chief executive, Wallace Sampson, who was paid £122,483 a year, plus a £19,520 pension.

Director of Corporate Affairs Rachel Bowles, who has responsibilities including finance, elections and communications, earned £87,968.

Paul Campbell, the council's former Director of Community who suddenly resigned last month, was paid the same amount. His portfolio included emergency planning, housing and homelessness.

Trevor Watson, Director of Economy and Culture, is responsible for areas including planning, sports and leisure, and building control was paid £84,938 a year.

No elected councillors appear on the list.

Harrogate Borough Council said it has "nothing to hide" with its senior officers' salaries - and questioned why the TaxPayers' Alliance had released its annual figures during the coronavirus outbreak.

A spokesman said: “The TaxPayers' Alliance issue this information every year but for some reason felt doing so during the current pandemic, while local authorities are working tirelessly to provide frontline services, was sensible. Others might disagree.

“We have always published our senior salaries and our pay policy on our website and have nothing to hide. These salaries are in line with those paid by comparable local authorities and are regularly reviewed.”

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Nearby in Leeds, the city council had 18 members of staff earning more than £100,000 during the 2018/19 financial year.

Birmingham’s former chief operating officer for strategic services, Angela Probert, was the highest paid council officer in England who received £398,396 last year.

Essex County Council had the highest number of senior officials earning more than £100,000 with 35 - although it covers one of the biggest council areas in the country.

The TaxPayer’s Alliance (TPA) criticised councils who were not providing value for money from tax payments while raising contributions and giving higher ups huge wages.

John O’Connell, chief executive of the campaign group, said: “The coronavirus crisis means that frontline council services are more crucial than ever but at the same time, household budgets face an enormous squeeze from crushing council tax rises.

“There are plenty of talented people in local authorities who are focussed on delivering more for less but that is needed across the board.

“The country needs every council to cut out waste and prioritise key services without resorting to punishing tax hikes on their residents.”

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter

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