Town Hall 'fat cats'

Recently retired RMBC chief executive Roger Ellis collected a total of £175,000 in salary, expenses and pension contributions

Rochdale Borough Council forked out more than £100,000 to each of 7 members of staff last year through salaries, expenses and pensions.

The Taxpayers’ Alliance annual Town Hall Rich List revealed recently retired chief executive Roger Ellis collected a total of £175,000 in salary, expenses and pension contributions.

Five senior posts were revealed as earning a six-figure sum — along with two “unknown” members of staff.

Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said: “Taxpayers will be astonished that so many council employees are still getting such a generous deal while everyone else in the public sector is facing a pay freeze.

"The Town Hall Rich List shows that while councils insist cuts can only mean pressure on frontline services, some clearly have cash in the bank when it comes to paying their own senior staff.

"These council executives must ensure they have the moral authority to lead necessary spending cuts, in many cases that will mean taking a pay cut themselves.

"Households have seen their Council Tax bills double over the last decade and deserve better value.”

Local priest, Father Paul Daly has called the salaries "obscene".

Father Daly has been leading a campaign against the Council's removal of beds for the homeless and has labelled the Council's homelessness strategy "wicked, sinful, immoral" and "barbaric".

Father Daly said: "In 2010-2011 seven people employed by the taxpayers of Rochdale were paid £929 000 between them according to the figures produced by the Taxpayers' Alliance.

"This Council has removed or reduced funding to groups working with the most vulnerable in this Borough.

"Need I say any more?"

Six figure salaries in 2010/11:

Roger Ellis
Chief Executive
£175,000
Salary £149,000; Expenses £3,000; Pension contributions £23,000


Executive Director: Strategic Housing, Planning & Regulation, Regeneration
£141,000
Salary £121,000; Expenses £1,000; Pension contributions £19,000


Executive Director: Environmental Management, Legal & Democratic Services, Human Resource & Business Partnerships
£141,000
Salary £121,000; Expenses £1,000; Pension contributions £19,000


Executive Director: Performance & Transformation, Finance & Procurement, Customer & Communications
£113,000
Salary £98,000; Pension contributions £15,000


Executive Director: Learners and Young People, Schools Service and Child Care (Formerly Children's Services)
£139,000
Salary £120,000; Pension contributions £19,000


Unknown title
£102,500


Unknown title
£117,500