Town Hall Rich List 2023: Highest earners revealed for East Midlands region amid cost of living increases

Nottingham City Council was the only authority in Nottinghamshire not to have featured on the list as its finances were not filed in time.

The purpose of the report is to disclose which areas of the UK local authority employees are making over £100,000 in total remuneration in a single financial year. The report includes 130 employees from the East Midlands region who made over that amount in 2021/2. Lincoln was found to be the area with the biggest employees earning over that amount at fourteen.

The report revealed an increase in the number of local authorities across the UK failing to file their annual statements before the deadline of July 31st, with Nottingham City Council failing to meet the deadline. The statements allow taxpayers to see if they are getting good value for money and what is being spent.

It discovered eight Nottinghamshire County Council employees earned above £100,000 per year in 2021/22. Siince releasing their finances, Nottingham City Council have also declared eight employeers earning above that figure.

As well as Nottingham City Council, 46 other local authorities had not even filed a draft of their unaudited accounts compared to 25 the year before.

Below are the Nottingham City Countil employees earning over £100,00 annual salaries:

Chief Executive (Mel Barrett) - £182,510

Corporate Director Resident Services -£152,250

Corporate Director for People - £146,008

Corporate Director Growth and City Development - £141,124

Director for Children’s Integrated Services - £113,680

Director of Public Health - £110,000

Director of Legal and Governance - £104,997

Director for Adult Social Care and Health - £104,996

Additionally, a search on the Tax Payers Alliance website reveals that the highest earning position for Nottinghamshire was Chief Executive of Nottinghamshire County Council who earned £230,586 in 2021/22.

Remuneration includes salary, bonuses, benefits in kind payments, loss of office, pension contributions and pension strain payments.

It comes amid a huge cost of living increase in the UK which has meant a steep rise in the cost of food, everyday essentials and travel. The energy crisis has also contributed to this increase causing bills to almost double over the past year. This year, the average household can expect a council tax increase of 5.1 per cent which will mean those in the average band D will pay an extra £99 a year.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has said that the consumer prices index has slowed to 10.1% in March from 10.4% in February. However, food remains at a 45-year high measuring 19.1% which is the highest they have been since August 1977.

In the report, the highest earning position for the East Midlands region was found to be the Strategic Director for South Kesteven in Lincolnshire. The annual amount listed for the role was £237,000 although the report stated that the name was ‘not disclosed.’ The Director also made the list of highest compensation for ‘loss of office’ in the same year at £115,000.

The Chief Executive at the same authority was listed as having claimed £19,000 in expenses the same year.