73% rise in council workers on £50k+

A COUNCIL has seen a 73.5% increase in the number of its employees who earn more than £50,000 a year, but has attributed the rise to national pay awards.

- By DANIEL HODGSON Local democracy reporter

Documents being presented to Middlesbrough councillors tomorrow explain that there has been an increase in the number of council staff and school employees who earn upwards of £50,000.

The increase has seen a rise from 155 people in 2022/23 on higher salaries to 269 in 2023/24.

This is a year-on-year increase of 114 staff members.

Of these 269 employees, 216 are deemed to be council employees while 53 work in the town’s schools.

The council explains that the level at which employee earnings information must be disclosed does not change but employee salaries do increase each year as a result of the national pay award, so an increase in officers going above the threshold is to be expected.

A document entitled “Analysis of Staffing Costs 2023/24” is going before the council's audit committee.