Chief Executive of Derry City and Strabane District Council John Kelpie earns £139,000 a year in salary and pension contributions
THE chief executive of Derry City and Strabane District Council John Kelpie is one of 17 senior council officials across the North of Ireland who earn more than £100,000 a year.
Mr Kelpie’s is paid from ratepayers money £130,000 per annum which includes £22,500 towards his pension pot.
That works out at £2,500 per week in salary and pension contributions.
The highest paid chief executive is Suzanne Wylie, chief executive of Belfast City Council, whose combined salary and pension is £159,000 a year.
The figure has been revealed by the TaxPayers’ Alliance.
Its analysis, covering the 2016-17 year, showed Belfast City Council chief executive Suzanne Wylie was the top earner with a total remuneration of £159,000, including £26,500 in employer pension contributions.
The spending watchdog, which examined pay packets at councils across the UK, criticised the high remuneration.
Its chief executive, John O’Connell, said: “Despite many in the public sector facing a much-needed pay freeze to help bring the public finances under control, many town hall bosses are continuing to pocket huge remuneration packages.”
He added: “There are talented people in the public sector who are trying to deliver more for less, but the sheer scale of these packages raise serious questions about efficiency and priorities.”
NILGA, the organisation that represents local government in Northern Ireland, said the pay packets were “once again proportionately lower on all levels than is the case in England, Scotland and Wales”.
A spokesperson said less council staff were earning the generous pay packets despite increased responsibility in the roles of senior officers.
“NILGA considers it absolutely essential that quality assured and nationally agreed (by employers, unions, labour relations and independent market testing) processes ensure fair pay and strong performance at all times within councils,” he said.
“This is not just given the situation at other levels of government, but because local investment by local people in local places is the most efficient model and this requires versatile, motivated and productive people, as befits any modern, forward-thinking, democratic region.”
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