Southampton City Council top wages revealed by Tax Payers' Alliance

During the 2020 and 2021 financial year, 12 staff members took home a six-figure salary – up from nine the previous year.

Sandy Hopkins, who was chief executive at the time, received £181,881 with total remuneration amounting to £208,099.

Five employees on the list were not identified and their job titles remain undisclosed.

Sandy Hopkins

They received salaries between £102,500 and £112,500, All but one of the remaining six on the ‘rich list’ are executive directors, including Grainne Siggins in the wellbeing department.

Her salary was £150,962 and she claimed £3,508 in expenses. Including pension, Ms Siggins cost the council £180,557.

Executive directors Mary D’Arcy, Mike Harris, and Kate Martin all received £134,417 in salary.

John Harrison, director of finance and commercialisation, earned £138,126 and Richard Ivory, service director of legal and governance, was paid £118,848 for the year.

Although Robert Henderson, executive director of wellbeing in children and learning, earned £85,000 as a salary, he was still paid £100,470 including pension.

• All data from The Taxpayers’ Alliance 2022 town hall rich list

Hampshire County Council

The number of HCC employees earning six figures has increased by two since the previous financial year.
John Coughlan, the council’s chief executive, took home £231,115 which is up from £224,929 the previous year – in total remuneration he received £530,761 due to a pension worth nearly £300,000.

The county council tax precept has increased by 2.99 per cent since the start of April.

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.

‘These positions are also responsible for the delivery of a range of services to a number of 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.’

Winchester City Council

Three employees currently have six-figure salaries in the second tier authority, compared to two staff members last year.

The chief executive, Laura Taylor, earns £128,000 – up from £121,000 the previous year.

WCC increased council tax by 2.7 per cent and saw increases of three per cent for other fees and charges.
The council was approached for comment

Fareham Borough Council

The previous year saw two FBC employees earning six-figures – currently, that number has risen to three.

The chief executive officer, Peter Grimwood, has seen his salary decrease from £140,213 to £137,418.

However, Sarah Robinson, director of support services, saw her salary increase from £90,205 to £108,775 over the last financial year.

For the current 2022-23 budget council tax has increased by £5 or 4.4 per cent.
The council was approached for comment.

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo.

Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website.

You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more.

Don't take my word for it - subscribe here to see for yourself.

Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by joining our Facebook group - Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents

Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated Facebook group - Hampshire Court and Crime News