Report reveals council workers pay in '˜rich list'

James Price from the TaxPayers’ Alliance has compiled its annual Town Hall Rich List.

Portsmouth’s chief executive was the only council employee to be paid more than £150,000.

The figures show he was paid £168,389 in 2014/15 and in 15/16. The prime minister Theresa May is paid £150,402, which includes an MP’s pay.

Gosport’s chief executive – before the senior management merged with the city – was paid £114,247 in 14/15 and £116,748 in 15/16.

In the city eight people were paid more than £100,000, one in Gosport, three in Fareham and three in Havant.

In East Hampshire the figure went from three in 14/15 to five in 15/16.

The eighth highest remuneration package in the country was received by Fareham Borough Council’s director of community.

It included salary of £49,545, £38,539 compensation for losing their job and £297,107 pension contribution, paid to a Hampshire fund not direct to the employee.

Fareham council leader Sean Woodward said the cash spent would be saved over three years and was part of a cash-saving restructuring to have fewer directors.

Mr Price, who wrote the report, said: ‘When local residents are struggling with tax rises, taxpayers will rightly question whether paying such an enormous amount in top boss salary can be justified.’