Telford and Wrekin Council looks to cut top salaries

Top salaries could be reduced and jobs could go in a revamp of management roles at Telford and Wrekin Council

The council cabinet hopes to save £406,000 by cutting wages and four senior management posts.

A managing director would be appointed instead of a chief executive on basic pay of £137,000, rising to £176,500 with extra payments. This compares with £192,930 paid to the chief executive.

A meeting of the full council will discuss the proposals on 24 November.

The cabinet will consider a report from the council's head of governance on Thursday.

As part of the proposals four senior managers would also go leaving 13 in post compared to 28 in 2009.

Corporate director salaries would be reduced from £118,000 to £109,000.

Union support

Leader of the Labour-controlled council, Kuldip Sahota, said the new structure for senior management was a move towards a Co-operative Council that is "more closely connected with its community".

"The creation of a managing director post will be key to achieving this and ensuring that our senior management team reflects more closely to the Co-operative Council model," he said.

He said the restructuring would not affect front-line services.

Jonathan Sedgebeer from the union, Unison, said he thought his members would support the proposals.

"I suspect most of them will really endorse this and hopefully endorse the fact that salaries are reducing.

"Let's just remember that the prime minister gets £142,000 so £137,000 isn't bad for running Telford and Wrekin Council," he said.