Vast pay rises after council shake-up

Published on Wednesday 26 July 2006 01:06

SENIOR council officials received pay rises of up to £31,581 as part of a shake-up of Edinburgh's education and social work departments, The Scotsman has learned.

One employee received a 64 per cent wage increase to more than 80,000 after being appointed to a new role. Eight senior officers in the council's fledgling children and families department shared pay increases totalling 109,198 last year.

The creation of the department followed a scathing report into the death of 11-week-old Caleb Ness at the hands of his brain-damaged father, which highlighted failings across the city's child protection system.

One of the top winners of the department's overhaul was Alan Jackson - a former "service manager" who was appointed to the new post of "neighbourhood manager". His salary increased from 48,883 to 80,464.

Paul Highet - who was promoted to neighbourhood manager - was offered a 28,000 increase, also to 80,464.

Christine Ferguson, formerly senior education officer, now manager of schools services, received a 36 per cent rise, from 51,207 to nearly 70,000.

A council source last night questioned why the wage increases were "given out so freely". The source said: "What new responsibilities are involved here that such massive salaries are needed? Only government ministers earn 80,000."

John Ross, a spokesman for trade union Unison, said the officials were experienced workers who had been appointed to new jobs with wider responsibilities.

He said the created posts required officers to take up additional duties related to children's education and health on top of their existing work in social services.

Iain Whyte, the leader of the council's Tory group, said the "very large increases" would surprise the public. "People will wonder what is going on in the council," he said.

"I hope these people will have more responsibilities and that there will be a slimming down in the structure elsewhere. If that's not the case, then the council will have failed."

Steve Cardownie, a councillor who recently quit Labour for the SNP, said the packages seemed "fairly generous" but would not comment on individual cases.

"I don't know what those individuals have done to merit these increases, but I suppose they are doing an altogether different job that would justify that."

A council spokeswoman said the officers had applied for the jobs after they were advertised internally.

She added: "These were new posts that were created and are not pay rises. These posts were created following a major council review and staff were appointed to these posts by the director of children and families in accordance with normal council procedures which had been agreed with the unions involved."

The new department brings together all the services previously provided by the education department and the children and families part of the social work department.