Council chief's six-figure salary disgusts residents

By Andrew MacAskill and Max Colchester

Local residents expressed anger yesterday after it was disclosed that eight members of the council are earning over £100,000 a year.

Helen Bailey, the Chief Executive Officer of Islington Council, came top of the rich list with a total salary of £139,000.

Put in context this is enough to pay for seven full time nurses or seven full time care workers.

Lucy Benson, 26, a care worker with disabled children at Haywards Adventure playground, earns just £18,000 a year. She branded Bailey’s wage as “disgraceful”.

“This money could be better spent helping people in Islington. At our school We have had two workers made redundant in the last year when our funding was cut. These people do not do as difficult a job as we do,” she said.

Taxpayers’ Alliance, a pressure group fighting for lower taxation, uncovered the figures during a nationwide campaign to name and shame high earning council workers.

Corin Taylor, Head of Research at the Tax Payers' Alliance, has criticised the “fat cat” wages in Islington.

He said: "Families in Islington are struggling with the demands of inflation-busting council tax bills and they will be outraged to know that much of their hard-earned money has gone on council salaries.”

One outraged resident, Alice Greene, 49, who has lived in Islington for over 20 years, said: “It would be great if they actually earned their salary. I think that the council is made up of skirmishers who are in a comfort zone.”

This view was echoed by Nathan Buller, 58, who condemned the council’s failure to address key issues in the borough:

He said: “What have they done to deserve this, there are problems with housing, road works and crime. It is a fraud that they are being awarded this money. ”

The Labour Party council members have questioned the high wages being paid to the senior members of the council and have pledged to reduce their salaries.

A spokesperson for the Labour Party, said: “The executive members of the council are being paid more than the average for London. We pledge to reduce the amount they are paid so it falls in line with the other London boroughs”

Melanie Toogood, Reverend of the St Georges in Islington, has defended the executive members. She said: “I don’t think anybody is paid what they are worth but I am sure that these are well intentioned people who do a good job.”