Investigation into excessive rises in the salaries of senior council executives

Mark Widdup, RMBC Director of Economy & Environment, received a massive pay increase

An investigation into the excessive rises in the salaries of senior council executives is being held.

MP for Rochdale Simon Danczuk is a member of the Communities and Local Government Select Committee, which is holding the investigation.

Mr Danczuk said: "I want to ask these council executives to justify the very high amounts of salary they receive. How can they argue that there should be such a differential between the lowest-paid people and themselves? Some often finish at 4.30pm on a Friday or get time off in lieu for attending a late committee meeting."

Rochdale Council awarded massive pay rises to senior council executives at the start of this year:

• Mark Widdup, Rochdale Council Director of Economy & Environment saw his salary increase from £76,786 to £91,464. 
• Pauline Kane, Director of Finance, saw her salary increase from £76,786 to £91,464.
• Acting Chief Executive Linda Fisher saw her salary increase to £97,185.

It is understood the leader and former Chief Executive of the Council are to be called before the Select Committee.

The Taxpayers Alliance said council tax bills have almost doubled in the last 10 years while “town hall bureaucrats are still getting remarkably generous deals”.