Tories ban on £240,000 ‘fat cat’ pay
THE Tories have vetoed a £240,000-a-year pay offer to attract a new boss for spending watchdog the Audit Commission.
The Conservatives say it is proof the coalition Government will deliver on its pledge to clamp down on fat-cat pay and will “send shockwaves through the upper echelons of the public sector”.
Audit Commission chairman Michael O’Higgins wrote to Communities Secretary Eric Pickles last week to say he was awaiting approval for the salary he proposed to offer a new chief executive to replace Steve Bundred.
Mr Pickles said last night: “The spiralling level of pay and perks stops here. The public coffers are empty thanks to Labour.”
Headhunters warned that even a salary of £190,000 would not attract a candidate at senior local government level.