Reading council has responded as its richest employees with salaries of more than £100,000 per annum have been revealed.
Each year, the TaxPayers Alliance compiles data on salaries for council staff in England and Wales with the latest figures being for the 2023/24 financial year.
Five Reading Borough Council’s employees earn more than £100,000 per annum according to the latest research.
A spokesperson said that salaries are ‘benchmarked’ with other councils of similar size, and are designed to attract and retain expert employees.
The highest-earning employee is Jackie Yates, the chief executive of the council, who took home £177,942 in 2023/24.
That year, she earned £5,789 more than Rishi Sunak, who served as Prime Minister from 2023/24, and had a salary entitlement of £172,153 that year.
The chief executive is responsible for the overall management of staff, carrying out the duties of the authority and advising councillors.
The highest-paid chief executive in Berkshire was Susan Halliwell, the chief executive of Bracknell Forest Council, who earned £204,000.
The TaxPayers Alliance found that at least 262 council employees in England and Wales received more than £200,000 in earnings in 2023-24.
The highest-earning council official who is not a chief executive in Berkshire is Grainne Siggins, the executive director for people at Bracknell Forest Council, who earned £175,000 that year.
The other staff who earn more than £100,000 at Reading Borough Council are the executive directors for resources, communities and social care, children’s services and the director of finance.
Michael Graham, the assistant director of legal and democratic services, earned £97,426 that year.
The seventh richest employee of the council was the executive director for economic growth and neighbourhood services, who earned £76,878.
The role was taken over by Emma Gee in March last year, who earns between £123,326 and £149,766 according to the council’s list of senior officers.
The names and salaries of all the council’s senior officers are available online.
Responding to a request for comment on staff salaries, a spokesperson said: “Reading council publishes its senior manager structure on its website as a matter of course.
“The salaries paid are benchmarked and in line with other local authorities of a similar size.
“Director level posts are responsible for numerous public services delivered locally to many thousands of residents across Reading.
“They additionally include key roles which require specialist knowledge and experience, such as responsibility for children’s social care, public health and finance for example.
“It is important salaries are set at a level that attracts and retains staff with the required skills, knowledge and experience to ensure vital public services are delivered to our communities.”
