£139,752 per annum for council chief

Statistics released Thursday revealed that Derbyshire county council's chief executive, Nick Hodgson, received remuneration of £139,752 in 2005-6.

His pay was lower than the chief executives of all but one county council which declared earnings to the Taxpayers' Alliance.

Ann Weston, deputy leader of Derbyshire County Council, said the chief executive took on a large responsibility.

"It is a big job with very big responsibilities and a lot of people rely on the county council to help them in their everyday lives," she said.

Mr Hodgson is responsible for a £1bn budget and about 33,000 employees providing services to more than 750,000 people. What with no help?

In 2005-6 Mr Hodgson saw his pay rise by 8.8 per cent from the year before, when he was on £128,439.

Derby City Council's chief executive, Ray Cowlishaw, enjoyed a rise of 14.92 per cent, from £122,868 in 2004-5 to £141,195 in 2005/6.

Both considerably above inflation!

Derby City Council leader Chris Williamson said: "When this is compared to what chief executives in the private sector get paid for having a fraction of the responsibility I think it shows the people of Derby are getting very good value for money." You wouldn't expect anything else from a brown nose but two wrongs do not make a right.

Now I know I'm in the wrong job.

Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-03-10 08:59:21