SEVENTEEN members of BCP Council staff received annual remuneration of more than £100,000, according to the latest Taxpayers’ Alliance Town Hall Rich List.

Chief executive Graham Farrant topped the list in the local authority for the 2020/21 financial year with a salary of £188,649.

Five of the other high earners were the corporate directors for environment and community (£148,190), resources (£144,280), regeneration and economy (£140,355), children’s services (£132,675), and adult social care (£125,766).

The director of finance also featured on the list with an overall figure of £130,272. None of the people occupying these roles at the time were named in the Taxpayers’ Alliance report.

Bournemouth Echo: Graham Farrant was the top paid officer at BCP Council in 2020/21Graham Farrant was the top paid officer at BCP Council in 2020/21

Another 10 members of staff had their job title listed as undisclosed. This included one member of staff with a salary of £137,500.

Councillor Drew Mellor, BCP Council leader, said: “All senior staff salaries are comparative with other public sector organisations of a similar size, and pay and remuneration is determined objectively using various job evaluation factors, including the skills and knowledge required to deliver the job effectively.

“BCP Council is responsible for a diverse portfolio of services and employ over 5,000 people in a large urban conurbation.

"It is imperative that our council is able to attract and retain high quality talent to ensure we are able to achieve our ambitious agenda for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and be the best we can be for our communities.”

Dorset Council had 26 members of staff with remuneration of more than £100,000.

This included chief executive Matt Prosser, who had a salary of £170,000 and £28,000 pension contribution.

Other named officers included four executive directors for people – Vivienne Broadhurst (£167,000), John Sellgren (£167,000), Theresa Leavy (£167,000) and Matthew Kendall (£140,000). It also featured director of public health Sam Crowe (£156,000) and executive director for corporate development Aidan Dunn (£167,000).

Nationally, at least 2,921 people employed by local authorities in 2020/21 received more than £100,000 in total remuneration, an increase of 119 on the previous year.

The report found 739 received more than £150,000, 46 more than the previous year.

The average number of employees who received more than £100,000 in total remuneration per local authority was 7.7. The average number receiving more £150,000 was two employees per council.

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