Aberdeen council chiefs are looking to recruit three new senior staff members – on a combined salary of nearly £300,000.
A new role of deputy chief executive, replacing the post of director of corporate governance, has been advertised with a salary of £127,391 – about £13,000 more than the job it replaces.
The £80,697 head of city planning job, which has lain vacant since Maggie Bochel left the authority in June last year, has also been re-advertised.
The head of communities and housing position, also on £80,697, has become vacant following the retirement of Donald Urquhart.
Opposition politicians criticised the apparent pay rise for the new post, saying it had not been made clear what additional duties it would entail.
The job advert reads: “Working for Scotland’s third largest city you will play a crucial role in driving Aberdeen City Council’s ambitious plans for delivering change and improvement.”
SNP group leader Stephen Flynn said the reputation of the authority in the eyes of some potential candidates could be putting them off applying.
He said: “The exact role of the deputy chief executive is yet to be outlined and the massive rise in pay seems to be unjustified.
“I think there has been a problem attracting high quality staff to Aberdeen but not necessarily for the reasons the administration claim.
“The cost of living argument doesn’t stand up with these high salary roles. I believe it is the toxic reputation of the council in the eyes of many applicants.”
In April, the Press and Journal revealed that the stand-in manager for the city planning job is believed to be receiving 150% of the full-time salary.
Last night, finance convener Willie Young said the authority were holding out for the highest quality staff and defended the creation of the new role adding that the salary was the “going rate”.
He said: “The city is growing all the time and we need a deputy chief executive to come help with our massive regeneration programme.
“Not only do we have competition from other local authorities but also the oil industry so we need to attract the best people.
“With the city planning job we have previously interviewed and decided there were no suitable candidates. We don’t just want to appoint for the sake of appointing.”
