Council chief exec could face pay cut

The Chief Executive at the council is facing the threat of a huge pay chop – as even more salary reviews take place.

Roger Ellis, who is thought to be on approximately £125,000, could fall victim to a separate pay and grading review, as could 130 top employees, including senior managers, heads of service and executive directors.

As the review is yet to take place, it is unknown exactly how the salaries will be affected, but the council say the move has come to “make it fair” for less senior workers who have fallen victim to the huge cuts.

The shocking news follows a huge pay cut across the board, which will see 6000 council workers deal with a huge salary shake-up.

Some employees have contacted Rochdale Online with news that they are about to lose £11,000 a year off a £32,000 salary.

So far around one in four workers, totalling 1,694, have been told they will have their wages reduced as a result of the new pay proposals. Just over 3,000 will get an increase, while 2,133 will remain the same.

Stephen Harper, the council’s head of people management, said: “Despite not being required to do so, Rochdale Borough Council has made a commitment to undertake a pay and grading review of the senior figures in the authority, which will begin in 2009."

"The current pay and grading review encompasses all council employees on NJC terms and conditions. Senior management are not employed on NJC terms and conditions so are therefore not subject to the review and there is no national requirement for these positions to be reviewed by local authorities.”