'Reform claimed CEO's salary was a waste of money, now they have agreed to pay even more'

DERBYSHIRE’S Reform county council administration has defended its move to increase its chief executive salary to more than £200,000.

- By EDDIE BISKNELL

Derbyshire County Council's new chief executive - to be appointed in April - will now be able to earn more than £200,000 a year if they obtain a new annual performance bonus.

This puts the role as the third highest paid county and city council chief executives in the East Midlands, should they gain their full bonus.

Without it, they would be ranked ninth out of the 10 authorities in the region.

The replacement for the county council's outgoing managing director, Emma Alexander, who is set to leave her post for Greater Manchester later this month, is now due a significant potential pay rise as part of the move.

Simon Stevens, the executive director of adult care and health, was appointed interim chief executive at a meeting on Wednesday.

The leading official at the Reform-run council, when appointed, will retain the same salary of £181,018 but will now also be able to earn a £20,000 annual performance-related bonus, pushing their potential takings to £201,018.

This is a change from the role having a salary of £181,018 but having potential annual increases which would gradually increase this pay to a maximum of £197,607 over a number of years.

Meanwhile, the role will be officially renamed chief executive, to match other councils.