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Flintshire County Council chief earns more than David Cameron

FLINTSHIRE County Council’s chief executive earned more than the Prime Minister last year, figures have revealed.

Colin Everett took home £171,703 during the financial year 2010-11 – almost £30,000 more than David Cameron’s basic salary.

The data was released this week by pressure group the TaxPayers’ Alliance when it published its Town Hall Rich List 2012, which revealed Mr Everett is the highest-paid council boss in North Wales.

Seven other council employees were also paid more than £100,000 last year, with two more council workers taking home £112,500 and £109,168 in 2009-10.

Across Britain there were at least 3,097 council employees who received total remuneration in excess of £100,000 in 2010-11 – a 13% increase on 2,696 the previous year.

In April 2010 the Chronicle reported how the county council’s four most senior figures earned a combined salary of at least £414,000. At that time Mr Everett’s earnings totalled £146,522.

For the 2010-11 financial year the directors of environment and lifelong learning – Carl Longland and Ian Budd – earned £119,032, while head of finance Kerry Feather took home £100,237.

The authority’s head of legal and democratic services, who recently retired, was paid £101,569, while three workers – whose titles were not disclosed by the council – were paid £422,500 between them.

Flintshire County Council had not responded by the time the Chronicle went to press.

A spokesman for the Welsh Local Government Association said: “Councils are responsible for delivering vital public services, including education, social services and environmental health.

“Council chief executives and senior staff are in charge of big businesses and are responsible for managing budgets worth millions that can have an enormous impact on people’s everyday lives.

“The salaries highlighted by the TaxPayers’ Alliance report are entirely appropriate for the levels of responsibility attached to the most senior posts in local government.

“A competitive salary is vital if we are to attract candidates of the highest calibre to demanding and vital public roles and deliver continual improvement in Wales’ public services.”

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