Sky-high salaries
You reported (5 August) that Glasgow City Council has 32 employees earning more than £100,000 a year. A report by the Taxpayers’ Alliance revealed that across Scotland there are 125, and UK-wide 542, people earning (if that’s the correct word) more than £150,000.
A staggering fact is that UK-wide at least 2181 council employees received more than £100,000. For the past three or four years there has been a freeze, or negligible salary increases, for the real workers. Higher officials have, for years, been given preferential terms.
Some receive large redundancy payments and are then taken back as a consultant. Salaries are increased before retirement to give a larger pension. One chief executive in Scotland made himself redundant in order to claim more than £200,000 and a huge early pension.
Fortunately Audit Scotland investigated and the individual had to pay this back.
There are obscene salaries all over the public sector, not just in councils. A remuneration committee including council taxpayers (your editorial, same day) would result in proper corporate governance and accountability.
Clark Cross
Springfield Road