Payroll costs explain rise in our taxes (From Warrington Guardian)

Payroll costs explain rise in our taxes

12:45pm Thursday 24th May 2012 in Letters

KEN Magill, in his letter of May 10, highlights an important reason for the rise in our rates which is largely made up of payroll costs.

Diana Terris cannot be blamed if the council awards her a pay rise.

The problem is the process by which senior council employees have their salaries set.

Rather than take direct responsibility for decisions, remuneration committees invariably appoint consultants who then carry out a ‘selective’ sample and declare that the incumbents are falling out of line and need a significant rise to keep their employees competitive.

Everyone loves this process: the beneficiaries who get bigger rises than they could ever have dreamed of, the committees who take none of the responsibility and the consultants who take their fees and are brought back the following year to so the same thing.

There is no real world reflective comparison of companies where employees have had no rises or next to no rises for years. This blight not only affects our council but other quasi-official bodies like housing associations, health boards and the like I am sure if Warrington Borough Council advertised for Ms Terris’ replacement at a salary of £100,000 they would be overwhelmed by top grade applications, but it won’t do that as it would upset its carefully structured benefits for all package.

It is also noticeable that these reviews have never shown a reduced figure.

DEREK CLARK Lymm