21/4/2021

Published Barrhead News On Line -

News

20th April

East Renfrewshire Council defends bumper pay packets

By Norman Silvester Reporter

East Renfrewshire Council has defended bumper six-figure salaries paid to senior officials last year.

Campaign group the TaxPayers’ Alliance revealed that eight senior members of staff at the local authority earned more than £100,000.

The figures were included in a report titled ‘Town Hall Rich List,’ which looked at the pay packets of all council bosses across Britain.

According to the TaxPayers’ Alliance, the biggest earner at East Renfrewshire last year was chief executive Lorraine McMillan, who was paid £147,780.

She was followed by Julie Murray, chief officer of the East Renfrewshire Integration Joint Board, on £132,268.

Deputy chief executive Caroline Innes Innes was the third highest earner, at £130,769.

A council spokesperson told the Barrhead News: “We are absolutely focused on delivering the best services possible for our residents and, like all councils, have made significant efficiencies in recent years.

“In Scotland, the salaries for local government chief executives are set nationally and are based on an assessment of the role and responsibilities and the required skills and qualifications.

“Senior management salaries are then set as a percentage of the salary of the chief executive.

“During these extremely challenging times, it is more important than ever that we have highly-skilled leaders helping us to ensure the council adapts and continues to deliver vital frontline services as best as we possibly can.”

Among the five other officials at East Renfrewshire Council listed by the TaxPayers’ Alliance was former director of education Mhairi Shaw, who earned £130,424.

Director of environment Andrew Cahill was paid £130,414, while Margaret McCrossan, head of accounts and financial officer, was paid £115,515 and chief social work officer Kate Rocks received £106,173.

The lowest paid of the eight was Anthony McReavy, chief executive of East Renfreshire Culture and Leisure, who was on £106,172.

Their remuneration packages included pension contributions from the council.

John O’Connell, TaxPayers’ Alliance chief executive, said: “At the onset of the pandemic, thousands of town hall officials were taking home huge sums.

“Many staff will have more than earned their keep but these figures shine a light on bosses and will allow residents to hold to account those who are not delivering value for money.”