Forum Topic

Twelve Hounslow Council employees earn more than £100,000

Tax Payers Allicance reports that Hounslow Council is in top 20 of councils that had the largest increase in employees who received in excess of £100,000, up from 9 in 2014/15 to 12 in 2015/16.Chief Executive Mary Harpley's pay reduced in 2015/16 but she still earned nearly £250,000.  Brendan Walsh is the only other one named in the report.  Wonder who the other 10 are?

Reg Ghosh ● 3045d21 Comments

Yes it's a nice little earner for doing relatively nothing if you choose to.

Steve Taylor ● 2977d

Big difference between 1986 and now with the cabinet system.

Nicholas Beard ● 2977d

Some people work part time for this, so according to ones means it could be substantial. For a partner at home say, they would pay no tax as it is just under the PA eg £11500.00.

Nicholas Beard ● 2977d

"but it doesn't amount to a full-time wage, especially for members without special responsibilities."No it doesn't but it's like a pocket money of £10 - £12K per annum you get whether you turn up to any meetings or engage with constituents or not. Once you have been elected you can emigrate and you will still get paid for a full term. Certainly Hounslow Cllrs don't seem to have to do anything for the £12,000 per annum.

Steve Taylor ● 2977d

It varies between boroughs because the rates are set locally.  There was a time when it was more or less literally out-of-pocket expenses.  It has risen in increments since then and there is certainly now a reward element but it doesn't amount to a full-time wage, especially for members without special responsibilities.

Phil Andrews ● 2977d

When I went on the council way, way back in 1986 we got an 'attendance allowance' which was minimal and only increased if a meeting went on for over two hours, also you could claim mileage over a certain amount. I think it worked out to approximately £30ish a month. Of course councillors worked under a different system then of committees etc. and had many more responsibilities.  It has changed now with this 'cabinet' system and you get the money whether or not you bother to turn up, go figure!

Vanessa Smith ● 2977d

Thank you for reply. Some people working part time get this. On the radio they were saying councillors do it for social responsiblility and get some expsenses thats all. I did  not know it was that much.

Nicholas Beard ● 2978d

Depends on their responsibilities, the average backbencher around £10,000 p.a., but if you are a Chair of a local area forum or perhaps the planning cttee. you would get a special responsibility allowance, as does the Dear Leader and The Mayor - at a somewhat higher rate.

Vanessa Smith ● 2978d

How much do councillors get through expences?

Nicholas Beard ● 2978d

I suspect that would be the fate of any misguided fool who dares question the Dear Leader (well one of the senior officers anyway).

Vanessa Smith ● 3042d

Couldn't get a straight answer?  Has he not been consigned to outer darkness for the rest of his natural?

Phil Andrews ● 3042d

I understand that Cllr. Virdi raised this very matter at the last borough council and couldn't get a straight answer.

Vanessa Smith ● 3042d

And some are drawing not one but two salaries from LBH/Lampton 360All taxpayers money and for what exactly?  Noting has gone quite right and the standards of professionalism are pretty poor.None of these people would last five minutes in a non cosseted private sector.

Raymond Havelock ● 3042d

There are more than 12Those employed by the LBH trading company  Lampton 360 Ltd or one of its subsidiaries who earn 100k plus are it seems exempt from public disclosure.We've raised this at council but seen no remedial action.

John Todd ● 3043d

Austerity? What austerity? Our Council seems to care not a jot and can continue to pay these ridiculously high salaries coupled with final salary pension schemes, long holiday allowances and wonderful fully paid sick leave packages. Nice if you can get it and then constantly complain about central government cuts. Champagne Socialists comes to mind.

Steve Taylor ● 3044d

Some of those titles give a very distinct impression of job creation to me.

Phil Andrews ● 3044d

This link shows the titles of the 12 officers on £100K plushttp://data.hounslow.gov.uk/View/employees/senior-posts

Steve Taylor ● 3045d

This is a link to what is on the Hounslow website - clear as mud!https://www.hounslow.gov.uk/info/20110/open_data_and_information_requests/1393/open_data/3

Vanessa Smith ● 3045d

Who - officers or councillors?

Vanessa Smith ● 3045d

Are they full time?

Sarah Felstead ● 3045d

And the justification will be have the best Officers in the sector looking after Hounslow when they could be working elsewhere!Well it does not seem to be working does it though it seems the norm these days for Officers to present reports rather then Councillors perhaps because many would be out of their depth if they had to do so themself

Paul Fisher ● 3045d