Top officials at north and north-east councils have decided to lead by example and accept a pay freeze in light of “unprecedented challenges” facing the public sector.
The chief executives of Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Moray, Highland, Dundee, Perth and Kinross, Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles councils yesterday agreed to waive their right to a 2.5% salary increase for 2010-2011 which would have come into force next month.
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla), which brokered the deal with a union which represents the senior officials at Scotland’s 32 councils, said the pay freeze decision reflects a “growing consensus” that the financial challenges ahead will call for tough measures to minimise the threat to jobs and services.
The Scottish Government said the officials have “done the right thing” – a move that is in line with a decision to freeze ministerial salaries in 2010-2011.
However, Dougie Black of Unison, the country’s largest public services union, claimed the “cosy” arrangement between chief executives and Cosla undermined agreed salary negotiation procedures with front-line workers, however.
Cosla human resources spokesman Michael Cook said: “The testing times both now and which lie ahead are such that leadership counts and chief executives have shown genuine leadership which we trust will set an example to others.”
Aberdeenshire Council chief executive Colin Mackenzie, who earns £133,971 a year, said the council has already reduced staff costs by around £500million a year and will continue to seek efficiencies to minimise the impact of further funding cuts on people.
Angus Council chief executive David Sawers, who is paid £121,680 a year, said he is “happy” to accept a pay freeze during the current financial climate. Perth and Kinross Council chief executive Bernadette Malone, whose salary is £118,713 a year, said she is “fully supportive” of the pay freeze.
Orkney Islands Council chief executive Alistair Buchan, who gets £98,877 a year, said: “It is vital that in these difficult times we all show genuine leadership in recognising the unprecedented challenges which lie ahead.”
Aberdeen City Council chief executive Sue Bruce, who earns £135,000 a year, was behind a recent decision to freeze senior managers’ pay to save the authority £67,000 a year.
Highland Council chief executive Alistair Dodds, who is paid £140,112 a year, added: “It is important that chief executives show leadership on this issue in these times of budget challenges.”
The Conservatives have called for a one-year public sector pay freeze next year to help the country deal with the legacy of “Labour's debt mountain”.
A Tory spokesman said: “We believe this will help save up to 10,000 jobs across Scotland.”