John Denham - pay packages for council chiefs 'out of hand'

Pay packages for council chiefs have got "out of hand", Communities and Local Government Secretary John Denham acknowledged today.

From April, councils will have to publish details of every postholder earning more than £150,000 a year.

At Commons question time, Mr Denham said he would be talking to local government leaders about what "further measures" could be taken when top jobs are filled.

He was replying to Bob Spink (Ind Castle Point), who asked: "Do you agree that senior council officer pay packages have increased selfishly to indefensible levels?

"I believe it's time we slimmed down these fat cats."

Mr Denham told him: "Over a period of time in which the average pay of council workers has gone up by £6,000 a year, the average pay of chief executives has gone up by £40,000 a year.

"While I pay tribute to the vast majority of those people, who have a lifetime of public service, things have got out of hand at the top.

"That's why we have required, from April, the publication of full details of every named post and individual paid more than £150,000 a year - and details of pay in £5,000 bands from £50,000 upwards.

"I'll also be talking to local government about what further measures we can take when it is proposed to create or fill one of these highly paid posts."

More than 100 council executives are reported to earn over £150,000 a year, a situation Gordon Brown described before Christmas as "unacceptable". He said money that should be spent on services was "going on excessive salaries and unjustified bonuses, far beyond the expectation of the majority of workers".