Northumberland’s new council boss is set to take home a salary just short of £200,000, it has been revealed.
It was announced last week that Helen Paterson has been recommended to take over as the new chief executive of troubled Northumberland County Council, following the long and bitter dispute that led to former boss Daljit Lally leaving this summer. A report now confirms that Dr Paterson will be offered a £199,000 annual pay packet – plus an extra £12,145 for every election held in which she acts as the council’s returning officer.
One councillor described the number as “eye-wateringly high”, coming at a time when the council is facing major budget issues and has offered all staff voluntary redundancy, though the authority defended it as comparable with other large, rural councils.
