Seven senior officials at Renfrewshire Council were each paid a bumper six-figure salary last year, a new report shows.

Figures released by the TaxPayers’ Alliance confirm that the local authority’s highest earner was chief executive Sandra Black, whose £186,469 pay packet included £12,190 for her job as Returning Officer for Renfrewshire at the European and UK elections.

Second on the list is Alan Russell, director of finance and resources, who was on £146,859, followed by Steven Quinn, director of children’s services, who was paid £142,615 per annum.

Mary Crearie, director of communities, housing and planning services, received £141,965, while director of environmental and infrastructure services Gordon McNeill was on £138,673.

The TaxPayers’ Alliance said two other council employees were paid £102,550 each but their names and jobs were not disclosed.

All of the pay packets listed for council bosses covered the 2019/20 financial year.
Renfrewshire Council declined to comment on the salaries of their senior officials, which are set nationally by the Scottish Joint Negotiating Committee for Local Authority Service.

The TaxPayers’ Alliance compiled a ‘Town Hall Rich List’ that found a total of 2,802 council staff across the UK received a salary in excess of £100,000.

Glasgow City Council had 14 staff earning in excess of £150,000 a year – more than any other local authority in Britain.

Several senior officials had bigger pay packets than either Prime Minister Boris Johnson or First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

John O’Connell, TaxPayers’ Alliance chief executive, said: “At the onset of the pandemic, thousands of town hall officials were taking home huge sums.

“Many staff will have more than earned their keep but these figures shine a light on bosses and will allow residents to hold to account those who are not delivering value for money.”