QUOTE:
Council staff salary shock

A clear-out of Powys County Council staff has been called for after one taxpayer discovered 1,285 employees are paid annual salaries of more than £30,000.

Kenny Thain, of Forge, Machynlleth, said he is tired of putting up with “deteriorating services” and “extortionate”‘ increases in council tax.

Mr Thain submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the council to find out how many of its employees are paid starting salaries over £30,000.

And he was staggered to find out nearly 1,300 people earn that much, compared to the UK average annual wage of about £24,000.

Mr Thain’s results showed Mark Kerr, council chief executive, is earning in the salary range of £117,854 to £125,981 a year, while two executive directors are being paid between £94,277 and £107,086 a year.