Council cuts number of high earners

TOP earner . . . Charlie Parker, chief executive of Oldham Council

OLDHAM Council has reduced its staff earning over £100,000 a year.

The Council had eight employees earning six figures in 2011-12 — three fewer than the previous year.

That figure is lower than some neighbouring authorities: Stockport has 19 and Bolton 15, for example.

The local authority now publishes the salary packages of all senior staff earning above £100,000 on its website.

Oldham council’s top earner is chief executive Charlie Parker — who received a basic salary of £185,000 for duties including work for the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority.

He also received £34,000 in expenses and employer pension contributions in 2011-12.

Below Mr Parker on the pay scale came executive director of neighbourhoods, Elaine McLean, who received a total of £161,000, and Carolyn Wilkins, assistant chief executive, who received £152,000.

Councillor Abdul Jabbar, Cabinet member for finance, human resources and strategic partnerships, said: “The chief executive’s salary is comparable to that of other local authorities.

“He gets an additional salary as chief executive of the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority — the biggest PFI scheme of its type in Europe.

“He hasn’t had a salary increase since he joined the organisation.”