The highest paid official at Bristol City Council earned a staggering £280,000 last year, the authority’s accounts reveal. Interim director of homes and landlord services Donald Graham cost taxpayers £280,634 in 2021/22 – almost £100,000 more than the authority's chief executive Mike Jackson.
The annual draft statement of accounts also shows exit payments soared from £159,000 the previous year to £1million, including a £120,000 payoff to an unnamed officer on a six-figure salary. And the number of council employees paid at least £50,000 shot up by more than a quarter from 198 in 2020/21 to 268, while those on more than £100,000 doubled from four to eight, not including temporary, agency staff who tend to cost more.
The report to the audit committee sparked concerns from councillors. Bristol City Council says salaries of top officers are agreed by the cross party HR committee and reflect their roles and responsibilities leading a billion-pound organisation that runs a major city, while the number of positions has been cut saving £1million a year.
