LibDems demand pay cut for new Council chief exec (Islington Liberal Democrats)

Islington Liberal Democrats <Islington_ld@cix.co.uk>

LibDems demand pay cut for new Council chief exec

June 25, 2010 2:02 PM

Cllr Terry Stacy, Lib Dem Group Leader

Islington Liberal Democrats have demanded a pay cut for the council's new chief executive following the news that current chief executive, John Foster, will not be renewing his contract next year.

In a letter to the Leader of the Council, Liberal Democrats have called on Labour councillors to join the Liberal Democrats in agreeing a lower salary for the new chief executive to reflect the harder economic times and need for local government to concentrate on frontline services to residents.

Liberal Democrats have led the way in fighting for greater transparency in council spending. They have:

• pushed for all council posts with salaries higher than £75,000 to be published in the public domain

• demanded to know whether the Labour Executive Members will be working full-time for their council salaries or whether they will be taking a corresponding pay cut

• called on the council to publish any spending over £500 before the Government brings in legislation to make it happen.

Liberal Democrat Leader of the Opposition, councillor Terry Stacy, said:

"Times are tough in local government and Labour councillors need to show residents they understand that the good old days of high spending are over.

"A good place to start is the new council chief executive's salary. Islington has recently had one of the best-paid chief executives in the country after all the political parties agreed his appointment and we all appreciate his contribution to Islington over the past two years. But we could afford this salary then. Now we can't.

"It's time to set a good example and show residents we are serious about reducing costs to ensure we can protect frontline services. It's time to follow the Government's example and cut the chief executive's salary."