Top pay level available to Wrexham Council’s chief exec could be increased to more than £140,000

THE top level of pay available to Wrexham Council’s chief executive could be increased to more than £140,000, it’s been revealed.

The highest of five salary points which can currently be earned by the local authority’s head of paid service stands at just over £136,300.

However, under new proposals put forward by the council’s pay and reward panel, that could go up by more than £4,000 to £140,675.

It has also been recommended that the bottom rung of the pay scale, which sits at just under £119,000 should be removed, meaning the salary for the most senior post would start at around £123,000.

The authority’s pay statement for 2021 shows current post holder Ian Bancroft’s salary stood at approximately £127,000 at the end of the last financial year.

A report which is due to go before all 52 councillors next week states: “Having considered all the information made available to them in respect of wider benchmark data, the panel agreed that they would recommend a minor change to remove the bottom point and the include a new point at the top of the salary range.

“They also recommended making the incremental rise differentials the same value.

“The panel agreed that they would recommend that no changes should be made to current salary range for the chief officers or the criteria which may be applied in exceptional circumstances.

“The salary range for the chief officer role, which comprises of six incremental points should remain at its current level.

“The chief executive and chief officers have been consulted on the proposals on 22 February, and their comments indicated that there were no objections to this proposal.”

The current salary range for chief officers stands at between £89,000 to £99,500.

In accordance with legislation, the council is required to refer any pay recommendations for the chief executive to the Independent
Remuneration Panel for Wales.

The panel met in March and confirmed in writing that it approved of the changes.

The report shows any additional costs incurred will come from the chief executive services department’s budget.

Councillors will have a final say on the plans at a meeting on Wednesday (May 26, 2021).