Executive's pay tops local government rich list (From Western Telegraph)

Executive's pay tops local government rich list

9:10am Saturday 5th May 2012 in News

Pembrokeshire County Council’s chief executive has topped a table of the highest paid local government officers in Wales.

Bryn Parry-Jones was paid £195,164 in 2010/11, according to the TaxPayers’ Alliance, making him the highest paid officer in Wales.

The figure includes pay, pension and benefits in kind and has increased by 2.7% since 2009/10, said the pressure group.

The TaxPayers’ Alliance ‘Town Hall Rich List’ also lists the total remuneration of the director of development, Dr Steven Jones who received £129,162, an increase of 3%.

The director of education and children’s services, Graham Longster is said to have received £111,471, a decrease of 12.4% and the director of finance and leisure Mark Lewis £129,587, a reduction of 1%.

The director of social services Jon Skone, who steps down in June, received £132,078, an increase of nearly 2% on the previous year and the director of transportation and environment Ian Westley was paid £129,836, according to the figures.

A Pembrokeshire County Council spokesman said: “The taxable salary for Mr Bryn Parry- Jones for 2010 - 2011 was in the band £155,000 to £159,999 – the same as for 2009 - 2010.

“In fact, along with his directors, the chief executive has not received a salary increase for the past four years.

“The change in his total remuneration referred to in the TaxPayers’ Alliance report is the result of an incremental increase within his salary scale.”

He added that it should be noted that Pembrokeshire continues to have the lowest council tax in Wales and one of the lowest in the country with a Band D payment at £719.93.

The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) called the TaxPayers’ Alliance reporting “crude and simplistic” adding that the salaries are “entirely appropriate for the levels of responsibility attached to the most senior posts in local government”.