Council criticised for offering chief executive £200k a year

But the leader of the council has defended the salary for the chief executive position, saying it is competitive and will draw in the best candidate to deliver their savings programme.

Last year, the city council announced it was facing a budget shortfall of £39m for 2024-25 and had to apply for emergency government help to shore up its finances, which it was granted in February.

Following the departure of Mike Harris in January - who said the role had taken a toll on his health - an interim chief executive was appointed.

But now, the council is advertising £172,719 to £204,736 a year for the permanent position – which is more than the salary of the Prime Minister.

The council’s advert states: “We are seeking an ambitious chief executive who will grip the challenges facing the sector whilst recognising the unique qualities of our city.

“Your commitment to addressing inequalities within our communities and collaborating with partners will ensure our growth plans benefit every resident and business.”

Conservative councillor Jeremy Moulton (Image: NQ) Reacting to the news, Conservative councillor Jeremy Moulton said: “This is a very large amount of money, especially for a council teetering on the edge of bankruptcy.

“Most importantly, what the council needs at a senior level is some stability.

“There has been significant turnover of directors in recent years, many of whom not lasting long.”

However, the leader of Southampton City Council, Cllr Lorna Fielker, has said that the large salary reflects the experience needed for someone to be a council chief executive.

Cllr Fielker said: “Local council chief executive salary bands are benchmarked and set at a national level and reflect the importance and complexity of the role they perform.

“Councils with multi-million pound budgets that employ thousands of staff and deliver hundreds of services, many safeguarding the most vulnerable people in society, need a suitably qualified and experienced chief executive officer.

Cllr Lorna Fielker (Image: NQ) “With local government finances under extreme pressure across the country, competition for the best is high.

“So we are offering a competitive salary to ensure we attract a high-performing individual who can drive forward our transformation plans and deliver our ambitions for city-wide growth and prosperity.

“The significant savings of well over £7 million we are forecasting to deliver this year demonstrate the value to council taxpayers of recruiting the right person to manage the council’s business.”