“No stone left unturned” Number 3: Does it make sense to have a Barnet Council CEO & CEO The Barnet Group.
For transparency the salary details of the Barnet Council Chief Executive salary are £201,456 to £212,685
(Source: https://www.barnet.gov.uk/sites/default/files/pay_policy_statement_2024_2025.pdf )
Barnet Council has responded positively to our request for oncosts information for posts to enable Barnet UNISON to understand the true cost for all posts in the Council.
In the case of the Barnet CEO if oncosts are applied to the figures above, the total oncosts would be £285,214 to £301,183.
Oncosts include National Insurance contributions along with Pension contributions. All staff working directly working for Barnet Council can join the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) which is a Defined Benefit Scheme.
For transparency the salary details of CEO of The Barnet Group (TBG) are as follows:
“The highest paid director cost £218,643 including £16,132 of contributions to a defined benefit scheme on the same employees (2023: £211,477).”
Source: https://thebarnetgroup.org/download/the-barnet-group-financial-statements-2023-24/
For transparency Barnet UNISON has emailed TBG to seek clarity about the calculations above. There is no mention of oncosts for this role and we assume that National Insurance contributions are being made for this post. Barnet UNISON has also noticed that it refers to “contributions to a defined benefit scheme.” Barnet UNISON understands that staff working for TBG are not able to join LGPS (which is a defined benefit scheme) and are instead offered to join a Defined Contribution Scheme which is not comparable to LGPS.
Meanwhile in response to Barnet UNISON’s proposal to save money in our original post:
“UPDATED: Barnet Council the Tale of “Three Chief Executives and one plumber” https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2024/10/18/barnet-council-the-tale-of-three-chief-executives-and-one-plumber/ that by having one Council, Barnet Council has been quick to point out that the CEO of TBG is paid the same as an Executive Director of Housing in other London Councils.
UNISON comment.
Barnet UNISON conducted a short survey of equivalent salaries for Housing in other London Councils.
1. Ealing Council
Strategic Director £139,830 £185,268
2. Haringey Council
Director Place and Housing £165,000 – £170,000
3. Croydon Council
Corporate Director Housing £146,020 – £154,731
https://democracy.croydon.gov.uk/documents/s43397/Appendix%201b.pdf
4. Enfield Council
Strategic Director ‐ Housing & Regeneration £130,000 ‐ £134,999
https://www.enfield.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0024/3696/Structure-data-Your-council.pdf
Harrow Council
Director of Housing Place D2 £113,358 – £127,368
https://www.harrow.gov.uk/downloads/file/32034/Senior_Managers_Pay_____20222023.pdf
As we don’t know how TBG calculate oncosts the above data does suggest that there could be a saving if the Housing Service was run by a senior officer working directly for Barnet Council rather that a CEO.
Barnet UNISON is waiting for the breakdown of how TBG calculates oncosts for their posts. In the meantime, our members are under considerable stress due to the financial crisis facing the Council.
Before any services or jobs are deleted Barnet Council must show full transparency by insisting that TBG comply with Localism Act 2011 – Openness and accountability in local pay
“1.1. Section 38(1) of the Localism Act 2011 requires local authorities to publish an annual pay policy statement.
In the Pay Policy document that is published annually the Council set out the reasons why they publish the salaries of certain Council posts.
You can view the relevant paragraph below and here is the link
https://www.barnet.gov.uk/sites/default/files/pay_policy_statement_2024_2025.pdf
Related Remuneration and Transparency Context
1.5. The Council follows the transparency requirements on remuneration as set out in the Local Government Transparency Code 2015 issued in February 2015 by the then Department for Communities and Local Government; and specific guidance relevant to the Localism Act issued by the Department in February 2012 and February 2013.
1.6. The Code of Recommended Practice for Local Authorities on Data Transparency includes publishing information relating to salaries over £58,200. Similarly, the Local Government Transparency Code 2015 stipulates that salaries over £50,000 should be published. In order to comply with both Codes, the Council publishes a summary of posts that are paid more than £50,000. The summary is available on the website of the Council and is periodically updated.”
Barnet UNISON is waiting to hear back from Barnet Council on this point.
End.