Chief Executive's pay rise to be limited to 1%

Councillor Colin Lambert

A source from within the Labour Group has revealed that Council Chief Executive Jim Taylor will not get the £40,000 pay rise championed by Council Leader Colin Lambert, the rise will be just 1%.

The decision was taken at a Labour Group meeting tonight (Monday 9 December).

The other senior council executives who were also in line for huge pay rises will also be getting just 1%.

The decision represents a humiliating climb down for Council Leader Colin Lambert, who has been determined to press ahead with the huge pay rise proposals in the face of public outcry and strong opposition from within his own party and members of Labour union, Unite.

Councillor Lambert attempted to push through what he called a "compromise" of giving the Chief Executive an immediate £15,000 rise, and the other executives £8,000 each, but scrapping the proposed 'performance' bonuses, however, he failed to secure any backing.

Another Labour councillor proposed the 1% increase saying that was what those at the bottom of the pay league are getting and so should be the same for those at the top. This proposal had the backing of a majority and left Councillor Lambert no option but to back down.

It is understood Councillor Lambert has instructed Labour Group members they are not allowed to talk about the climb down. However, some are furious at Councillor Lambert "dragging Labour through the mud" over the past two months and doing a "great deal of damage" to the local Labour Party reputation.

The 1% proposal will still have to be ratified at Wednesday's council meeting. However, with Labour having a large majority, providing there is no change of mind between now and Wednesday's meeting, the new 1% proposal will be carried.