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| Councils 'to reveal bosses' pay' | Councils 'to reveal bosses' pay' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Councils in England will be forced to publish information on how much their chief executives earn under planned legislation, the government has said. | |
| Local Government Minister John Healey said the "spiralling" pay of some council chiefs needed to be countered. | Local Government Minister John Healey said the "spiralling" pay of some council chiefs needed to be countered. |
| But David Clark of the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives said that his members carried out "big complex jobs requiring people of real talent". | But David Clark of the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives said that his members carried out "big complex jobs requiring people of real talent". |
| English council tax bills will rise by 3% on average, a BBC survey suggests. | English council tax bills will rise by 3% on average, a BBC survey suggests. |
| The study by the leading accountancy body CIPFA, based on returns from nearly 75% of councils, indicates that the average band D home bill will rise by just over £40 to £1,414. | The study by the leading accountancy body CIPFA, based on returns from nearly 75% of councils, indicates that the average band D home bill will rise by just over £40 to £1,414. |
| 'Pay-offs for failure' | 'Pay-offs for failure' |
| Across the country, around 20 council heads are believed to earn more than the prime minister. | Across the country, around 20 council heads are believed to earn more than the prime minister. |
| While Gordon Brown receives an annual salary of £194,000, the heads of Newham and Wandsworth councils earn more than £240,000 each year. | While Gordon Brown receives an annual salary of £194,000, the heads of Newham and Wandsworth councils earn more than £240,000 each year. |
| But many local authorities raise legal objections to attempts to find out details of some of the top earners, while others require formal Freedom of Information requests. | But many local authorities raise legal objections to attempts to find out details of some of the top earners, while others require formal Freedom of Information requests. |
| Mr Healy said the government had decided to legislate to reveal the full picture of what senior councils officers are paid. | Mr Healy said the government had decided to legislate to reveal the full picture of what senior councils officers are paid. |
| "We've seen in some councils' salaries spiralling, we've seen some big pay-offs for failure, and that can't go on," he said. | "We've seen in some councils' salaries spiralling, we've seen some big pay-offs for failure, and that can't go on," he said. |
| If that was a private sector job, they would have three times the income David Clark Society of Local Authority Chief Executives | If that was a private sector job, they would have three times the income David Clark Society of Local Authority Chief Executives |
| "I think the public need to know the full picture. That's why I'm going to change the rules." | "I think the public need to know the full picture. That's why I'm going to change the rules." |
| Mr Clark said his members were worth the money. | Mr Clark said his members were worth the money. |
| "The average shire county, for example, employs 22,000 people," he said. | "The average shire county, for example, employs 22,000 people," he said. |
| "If that was a private sector job, they would have three times the income." | "If that was a private sector job, they would have three times the income." |
| It is not only local authorities which have seen large top-level wage rises - one housing association chief executive took home £327,000 in the last financial year, while the highest-paid official at Transport for London earned £540,000 - including a pay-off. | It is not only local authorities which have seen large top-level wage rises - one housing association chief executive took home £327,000 in the last financial year, while the highest-paid official at Transport for London earned £540,000 - including a pay-off. |
| BBC correspondent Gavin Hewitt said the prime driver of all these increases was a change in philosophy that the public sector must compete with the private sector. | BBC correspondent Gavin Hewitt said the prime driver of all these increases was a change in philosophy that the public sector must compete with the private sector. |
| But the added that there was now a growing political consensus that executive pay in the public sector needed to be reined in. | |
| The Conservatives have said they will freeze council tax for two years if they are elected. | The Conservatives have said they will freeze council tax for two years if they are elected. |
| Separate research published on Thursday suggested local authority pensions use up one in every five pounds of council tax. | Separate research published on Thursday suggested local authority pensions use up one in every five pounds of council tax. |
| According to the Taxpayers Alliance, funding employee pension schemes cost councils £4.5bn in 2007/8, with average contributions up by 7% from the previous year. | According to the Taxpayers Alliance, funding employee pension schemes cost councils £4.5bn in 2007/8, with average contributions up by 7% from the previous year. |
| The Alliance said "gold-plated public sector pensions place a stranglehold on council budgets". | The Alliance said "gold-plated public sector pensions place a stranglehold on council budgets". |
| Tougher economic situation | Tougher economic situation |
| The CIPFA survey found that London is set to see the council tax lowest rises over the next year, of just over 1%, but bills in the South West and North East will rise 3.5%. | The CIPFA survey found that London is set to see the council tax lowest rises over the next year, of just over 1%, but bills in the South West and North East will rise 3.5%. |
| Although the 3% rise would be well above the current 0.1% inflation rate, it would be the smallest for 15 years. | Although the 3% rise would be well above the current 0.1% inflation rate, it would be the smallest for 15 years. |
| REGIONAL TAX BREAKDOWN South East, £1,436 (+3.4%) London, 1,307 (+1.2%)East of England, £1,450 (+3.0%)East Midlands, £1,454 (+3.3%)North East, £1,479 (+3.5%)North West, £1,441 (+3.3%)South West, £1,462 (+3.5%)West Midlands, £1,388 (+3.3%)Yorkshire and Humber, £1,380 (+3.3%)Wales, £1,086 (+4.1%) Average figures for band D houses, England and Wales, 2009-10. Source: CIPFA | REGIONAL TAX BREAKDOWN South East, £1,436 (+3.4%) London, 1,307 (+1.2%)East of England, £1,450 (+3.0%)East Midlands, £1,454 (+3.3%)North East, £1,479 (+3.5%)North West, £1,441 (+3.3%)South West, £1,462 (+3.5%)West Midlands, £1,388 (+3.3%)Yorkshire and Humber, £1,380 (+3.3%)Wales, £1,086 (+4.1%) Average figures for band D houses, England and Wales, 2009-10. Source: CIPFA |
| The figures back up recent research from the Local Government Association (LGA) which suggested this year's rise in bills will be the smallest for more than a decade. | The figures back up recent research from the Local Government Association (LGA) which suggested this year's rise in bills will be the smallest for more than a decade. |
| The BBC's local government correspondent John Andrew said it was not just the threat of government capping that was keeping bills down but a recognition by councils that large increases will not be tolerated in a recession. | The BBC's local government correspondent John Andrew said it was not just the threat of government capping that was keeping bills down but a recognition by councils that large increases will not be tolerated in a recession. |
| The LGA, which represents 300 councils in England, said reduced demand for services and falling returns on investments would cut councils' annual income this year by £2.5bn. | The LGA, which represents 300 councils in England, said reduced demand for services and falling returns on investments would cut councils' annual income this year by £2.5bn. |
| The tougher economic situation has forced many councils to cut jobs and more layoffs are expected. | The tougher economic situation has forced many councils to cut jobs and more layoffs are expected. |
| The latest research, by the Chartered Institute for Public Finance and Accountancy, suggests that several councils in London are freezing or even cutting bills in response to the economic climate. | The latest research, by the Chartered Institute for Public Finance and Accountancy, suggests that several councils in London are freezing or even cutting bills in response to the economic climate. |
| The government has said "excessive" increases in bills will not be tolerated and they urged councils to make further savings to ensure that core services are not affected during the recession. | The government has said "excessive" increases in bills will not be tolerated and they urged councils to make further savings to ensure that core services are not affected during the recession. |