Councillors 'unaware' of Teignbridge chief's 12% pay rise

The ruling Conservative group said Nicola Bulbeck's rise reflected her additional responsibilities

Councillors said they were unaware of a proposal to increase a chief executive's pay by 12% - taking it to £141,000 - before it was passed.

Nicola Bulbeck's £15,000 pay rise has been called "excessive" by opposition Liberal Democrat politicians on Teignbridge District Council.

But the ruling Conservative group said information about the rise was given to all councillors in June.

Lib Dems said they had not "knowingly" approved the rise last month.

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The Conservatives said the rise reflected additional responsibilities for Ms Bulbeck.

It followed a cut to the number of posts in the council's senior management team from 18 to six.

Liberal Democrat leader Gordon Hook said: "A meeting a couple of weeks ago had a report to members and there was a web link to the statement of accounts.

"On page 84 there is one line about the chief executive's salary increase.

"There was no indication it was in the booklet or that the information was going to be brought as an item to members, which it should be.

"We accepted the report, but we were given no lead that that was part of the package."

Councillor Jeremy Christophers, leader of Teignbridge District Council, said that the rise, which includes pension contributions of £22,000, had "always been available and updated on the website".

"Figures have been publicly available in the annual accounts since June and were presented at audit scrutiny committee on 21 July and 14 September and full council on 26 September.

"Teignbridge proactively and routinely publishes all possible data to enhance our transparency and accountability and help residents understand how we work and the services we provide," he said.