Next county boss will have pay slashed
Comments |
by political
editor Paul Francis
It has been described as the biggest job in local government -
but the person who becomes Kent County Council’s next boss could be
paid £55,000 less than Peter Gilroy, who leaves the post in
May.
The search for a replacement is now underway and the advert for
the post reveals the salary on offer is £185,000.
KCC is also changing the title of the post of chief executive to
group managing director, saying the change reflects "a subtle
difference" from the current job description.
Peter Gilroy’s most recently published
earnings indicate he was paid a basic salary of £207,000
supplemented by a performance related bonus of £31,064.
He was in the post for five years.
The salary on offer comes against a backdrop of mounting
political pressure and a public outcry over "fat cat" public sector
pay packages.
The level at which it has been set means it would not have to be
approved by a future Conservative government, as the basic salary
is below the Prime Minister's. However, Labour has said that all
public salaries above £150,000 will need Treasury approval.
In its advert, KCC leader Cllr Paul Carter says he wants to
appoint someone with "star quality" and indicates candidates from
outside local government may be considered.
He writes: "I’m looking for a group managing director who is a
radical thinker and challenges the orthodoxy. There’s no job bigger
in local government...what is essential to me is that you have star
quality and an impressive track record of delivering
transformational change."
Although the salary on offer has dropped, the successful
candidate will enjoy other perks, including 30 days leave plus Bank
Holidays and access to a private health scheme. The person will
also qualify for help selling and finding a new home if they have
to move.
Under the strapline "Different isn’t different for long" the
recruitment advert says the managing director "will face the
challenge of keeping England’s largest authority at the forefront
of modern local government through constantly improving our
excellent services and leading 44,000 employees and a budget in
excess of £2billion."
Top recruitment consultancy Veredus has been contracted to
handle the search and an appointment is expected to be made after
final interviews in mid-March.
Friday, January 15 2010
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