WALTHAM FOREST: Council officers' salaries revealed to increase transparency

3:42pm Friday 12th March 2010

By Sian Harrison

WALTHAM Forest Council has revealed details of senior officers' salaries as part of a drive to increase transparency.

The council has, for the first time, published details on its website, including a list of pay grades and the salaries of executives earning more than £100,000, in response to a request under the Freedom of Information Act.

The figures show 11 officers were paid more than £100,000 in the 2008/2009 tax year.

The highest total, including basic pay and expenses, was £141,554.55 paid to deputy chief executive Martin Esom.

Mr Esom is now also interim chief executive of Ascham Homes, which manages property on behalf of the council.

Chief executive Andrew Kilburn was paid £100,423.42 in total, but only took up the post part way through the financial year.

According to the published pay grades, the chief executive's salary is between £198,268 and £213,268.

The figure is higher than the pay grade for the chief executive of neighbouring borough Redbridge, which is between £165,000 and £195,000.

However, it is lower than the salary paid to Newham chief executive Joe Duckworth in 2008/2009, which was £240,000.

The figures were published, along with details of councillors' interests, on the council's website after a decision taken in October last year to promote transparency in how public money is spent.

The Taxpayers Alliance welcomed the council's decision to reveal the information.

Chief executive Matthew Elliott said: "It's excellent that the council have introduced this new level of transparency.

"Taxpayers have a right to know exactly how their money is being spent, and this gives people a real insight into how much people at the top are earning.

"It’s a shame that so many other councils are trying to hang on to secrecy for as long as possible, when Waltham Forest have shown how easy it is to be open."

Andrew Kilburn, chief executive - £99,133.98 (basic salary), £100,423.42 (after expenses).

Christopher Kiernan, executive director - £133,535.46 (basic salary), £135,755.87 (after expenses).

Daniel Fenwick, director of governance and law - £79,300.02 (basic salary), £116,262.87 (after expenses - includes honorarium of £32,984.51).

Ian O'Donnell, director of finance - £124,776.70 (basic salary) £127,308.14 (after expenses).

Martin Esom, deputy chief executive - £139,812.59 {basic salary) 141,544.55 (after expenses).

Robin Tuddenham, assistant director Safe & Strong Communities - £111,907.14 (basic salary), £113,840.50 (after expenses).

Shifa Mustafa, assistant director development - £110,321.08 (basic salary), £123,421.95 (after expenses - includes £10,581.31 from other employment and pay supplements).

Janet Wickham, director of people, policy and performance - £115,248.70 (basic salary), £116,980.66 (after expenses).

Jo Olsson, head of children and families - £103,298.04 (basic salary), £105,152.98 (after expenses).

Margaret Konigsberg, executive director - £100,727.52 (basic salary) £102,454.82 (after expenses).

Visit www.walthamforest.gov.uk/index/news/pay-and-expenses.htm for the full table of salaries and expenses.