London council salaries: Westminster and other authorities’ staff receiving more than £100k

A London council has for the third-year-running recorded more staff receiving remuneration of over £100,000 than any other local authority in the country.

According to an annual rich list compiled by the low-tax campaign group the Taxpayers’ Alliance, Westminster City Council, which topped 2020/21 with 44 employees, this year again came in at number one with 50 staff members listed for 2021/22, the 12 months covered in the most-recent analysis.

The council was one of the few in London not to increase the core element of its council tax in its 2023/24 budget, though a 2% increase on the adult and social care precept was passed.

The local authority with the highest-paid staff member in England was Guildford Borough Council, whose managing director was on a total package of £607,633, more than half of which involved pension contributions.

In London, Ealing Council’s chief executive received the highest remuneration of £325,047, the largest contributor being his yearly salary of £192,465.

Eight of the 10 local authorities with the most employees receiving more than £100,000 were based in London, which, in addition to Westminster, consisted of Haringey (44), Islington (36), Lambeth, Greenwich, Waltham Forest (all 35), Newham, and Hackney (both 34).

Across the country, the Taxpayers’ Alliance said at least 2,759 local authority employees received more than £100,000 in remuneration, down on the 2,921 recorded last year.

Not all local authorities are included in the data, which is based on public accounts for the period, with Croydon Council, which had to effectively declare bankruptcy earlier this year and raised council tax by 15%, one of those absent.

Of the 398 current local authorities which should have filed accounts for 2021/22, 47 had not published draft accounts by April 11, 2023 - the highest number since the Town Hall Rich List series began.

John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: "Taxpayers facing record council tax rises want to be sure they are getting value for money from their local authority leadership.

“Many authorities continue with extremely generous pay and perks, including bonuses and golden goodbyes, while local people are facing a financial squeeze.

“Residents can use these figures to hold their local town hall bosses to account.”

Westminster City Council was approached for comment.