Council chief executives to snub pay increase

CITY council chief executive Tom Aitchison today announced he and his fellow chief executives across Scotland will forego a salary increase next year.

Mr Aitchison is currently paid 150,912 a year.

They had been due to receive a 2.5 per cent rise from April under a three-year deal agreed in 2008.

But Mr Aitchison, chair of the Association of Local Authority Chief Executives, said: "Council chief executives in Scotland recognise the financial situation is very challenging at present and accept that there should be no salary increase in 2010/11."

Councillor Michael Cook, of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, praised the chief executives for showing "genuine leadership" which he hoped would set an example to others.

He said: "It mirrors the decision of council leaders to agree to their pay being frozen in the coming year. It is significant that the political and executive leadership of councils have recognised the unprecedented challenges which lie ahead."