At least 47 council officers across Staffordshire were paid more than £100,000 in 2022/23. Figures compiled by the Taxpayers' Allowance show the number of council staff on six-figure pay packages at local authorities across the UK, as shown in council accounts.

The list shows that Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Staffordshire County Council each had 14 officers on more than £100,000 a year, while five district councils – Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire Moorlands, Lichfield, East Staffordshire, South Staffordshire and Tamworth – together had 19. No accounts had been published for Stafford or Cannock Chase councils.

The figures for total remuneration includes salary along with expenses and pension contributions. The highest paid council officer in Staffordshire in 2022/23 was John Henderson, chief executive at Staffordshire County Council, who received £243,313. City director Jon Rouse was the highest paid officer at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, receiving £232,222.

A spokesperson for Staffordshire County Council said: "The figures represented each year by the Taxpayers' Alliance are inflated to include payments such as pension contributions and do not reflect the actual salaries to senior staff.

"As a county council serving nearly 900,000 residents, with an annual turnover of more than £1.4 billion, it is important that we can attract and retain the very best staff. The remuneration paid to our senior managers, which is in line with many other large local authorities, is repaid many times over in terms of the contribution they make to the council and whole county every day."

According to the Taxpayers' Alliance research, a total of 3,106 council officers were paid more than £100,000 in 2022/23, the highest number since 2015.

Jon Rouse was the highest paid officer at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, receiving £232,222 (Nub News).

John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "The new financial year has seen council tax soar across the country, and taxpayers will notice that top brass pay has simultaneously surged. Local authorities provide crucial services and residents will want to make sure they are getting bang for their buck with their ever-increasing bills.

"Residents can use these figures to ask whether precious funds are really going towards frontline services, or whether town hall bosses can get better value for money."

Stoke-on-Trent City Council officers on the list:

• Jon Rouse, City director – £232,222
• Director – children and family services – £193,947
• Director – housing, growth and development – £193,919
• Director – strategy and resources (and section 151 officer) – £182,319
• Director – social care, health integration and wellbeing – £175,300 (Incumbent covered in an acting-up position from 8 May 2022 until being appointed to the post on 11 October 2022)
• Undisclosed – £152,500*
• Assistant director – governance and registration (monitoring officer) – £133,955
• Undisclosed – £117,500*
• Undisclosed – £107,500*
• Undisclosed – £107,500*
• Undisclosed – £107,500*
• Undisclosed – £107,500*
• Undisclosed – £107,500*
• Undisclosed – £107,500*

John Henderson, chief executive at Staffordshire County Council received £243,000 (LDRS).

Staffordshire County Council officers on the list:

• John Henderson, Chief executive – £243,313
• Director of economy, infrastructure and skills – £201,498
• Director of corporate services- £200,516
• Director of finance (section 151 officer)- £178,550
• Richard Harling, Director of health and care – £173,027
• Director of children and families – £156,179
• Undisclosed – £137,500*
• Undisclosed – £117,500*
• Undisclosed – £117,500*
• Undisclosed – £117,500*
• Undisclosed – £117,500*
• Undisclosed – £102,500*
• Undisclosed – £102,500*
• Undisclosed – £102,500*

*For these officers, only a range is given for their remuneration rather than an exact amount, so the figure is the midpoint of that range.

Newcastle Borough Council, Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and East Staffordshire Borough Council each had three officers on more than £100,000. Staffordshire Moorlands shares its top officers with High Peak Borough Council.

Tamworth Borough Council and South Staffordshire District Council each had four officers on the list, and Lichfield District Council had two.

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