The Basingstoke council staff earning more than £100,000

Figures released by the Taxpayers Alliance show that seven members of staff from the council are earning more than the amount in 2022-2023.

The number of local authority employees receiving more than £100,000 in total remuneration has risen to the highest level since 2013-14.

The data reveals that the highest earning Basingstoke council official at the time was the chief executive Russell O'Keefe.

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Right chief executive Russell O'Keefe and right and left deputy chief executive Rebecca Emmett (Image: Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council)

The date reveals that Mr O'Keefe takes home a salary of £146,366.

Mr O'Keefe was appointed into the role in October 2020 and took up the post on Monday, January 4 the following year.

Sue Cuerden, who at the time was the executive director of corporate services and assets (section 151 officer), was the second highest earner, earning £117,756.

The third highest earner was the deputy chief executive, Rebecca Emmett, who took home a salary of £108,886.

Other members of the council’s senior management team also cost the council more than £100,000.

These included Kate Dean, the former project director for Basing View and commercial (£106,009); Andrew Reynolds, project director for Manydown (£105,991); Fiona Thomsen, the head of law and governance and monitoring officer (£102,481) and Tom Payne, the head of environment and community services (£101,298).

The project director for Basing View post no longer exists and this area is now covered by the head of major projects and development.

A spokesperson for Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council said: “We operate with transparency regarding the pay of our senior employees and their salary details are published on our website as part of our statement of accounts.

"Salaries are set at an appropriate market level, in line with our council approved pay policy, to attract the people with the right skills and experience. These figures should be put into the context of the council’s ambitious vision for the future of the borough and to deliver a range of aspirational and complex projects for the benefit of our residents, while also delivering high quality services to our residents.”

The data, published on Tuesday, April 9, also revealed that 38 staff members of the Hampshire County Council were paid more than £100,000 in 2022-2023, five more than in the previous 12 months.

Carolyn Williamson, the council’s chief executive, is the highest earner, taking home a salary of £236,968.

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This is followed by Steve Crocker, director of children’s services and deputy chief executive, and Graham Allen, director of adults’ health and care and deputy chief executive, who both earn £178,640.

Other members of the council’s senior management team also cost the council more than £100,000.

They include Felicity Roe, director of community, culture and business services (£120,133); Stuart Jarvis, director of economy, transport and environment (£119,556) and Rob Carr, director of corporate operations (£168,363).

A spokesperson for Hampshire County Council said: “The data that the Taxpayers’ Alliance has provided is readily available, as these details are published by the County Council each year. It is important to note that the roles of a number of our most senior officers go beyond the delivery of services on behalf of just Hampshire County Council, with these positions also responsible for the delivery of a range of services to other local authorities and public sector partners nationally.

“Employing approximately 10,000 people directly and many more indirectly, Hampshire County Council is one of the largest public sector organisations in the country, serving 1.4 million residents, spending over £2 billion per year on the delivery of a wide range of complex and essential public services. County Council rates of pay are competitive in order to recruit, retain and motivate the best people, and to deliver value for money for the taxpayer - never has it been more important to ensure we have the right skills and expertise in place to help steer the Local Authority through the difficult and very challenging times ahead.”