Three of Kirklees Council’s top officers each earned over £150,000 last year.

And a further six officers raked in more than £100,000 last year, according to figures obtained by the Taxpayers’ Alliance (TPA).

Among those on the TPA Town Hall Rich List was Kirklees Council chief executive Adrian Lythgo who earned £169,585 in 2013/14.

Mr Lythgo was followed by Kirklees head of children’s services, Alison O’Sullivan, who was paid £156,260 last year and now retired council head of public health, Dr Judith Hooper, who earned £150,116.

Kirklees Council Chief Executive Adrian Lythgo
Kirklees Council Chief Executive Adrian Lythgo

Also on the rich list was Calderdale Council chief executive Merran McRae who was paid £162,000 in 2013/14.

Calderdale Council paid salaries of over £100,000 to a further eight top officers last year.

However, neither Kirklees Council nor Calderdale Council had anything like the greatest number of council officers earning six-figure salaries in West Yorkshire.

Kirklees Council's director for children and young people Alison O'Sullivan

Leeds City Council had the most officers receiving six-figure salaries with 32 employees earning over £100,000 a year.

Meanwhile, the best paid council officer in the county was Bradford City Council chief executive Antony Reeves, who was paid £228,650 last year.

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The ninth TPA Town Hall Rich List revealed that 3,483 council staff earned more than £100,000 in 2013/14.

The survey found that London council Haringey had the greatest number of employees (68) commanding six-figure wages, while 130 councils had at least 10 employees earning over £100,000.

Topping the country’s Town Hall Rich List was Jill Stannard, chief executive of Cumbria County Council, who earned a whopping £411,025.

Director of Public Health Judith Hooper
Director of Public Health Judith Hooper

TPA chief executive Jonathan Isaby said: “Local authorities that are providing more for less and delivering council tax cuts clearly have talented people at the helm, but taxpayers living in poorly performing areas will be furious at the scale of some of these massive pay awards.

“After more than a decade of reckless spending and council tax hikes, local politicians now have to make necessary savings and the pay and perks for the town hall elite have to come under the spotlight.

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“We all deserve to know how our money is being spent, and taxpayers should have the right to decide if they are getting value for their money from public servants.”

David Sheard, leader of Kirklees Council said: “At a time when the public sector is facing significant change and increased pressure on resources it is important that we employ the best people to ensure the council meets its priorities.

"I do not see why people who choose to work in the public sector should be penalised for doing so.

“The pay awarded to the chief executive and other directors is comparable to similar sized councils both regionally and across the UK. The council is planning for further reductions in senior management costs of £489,000 over the next three years."

Calderdale Council logo
Calderdale Council logo

A spokesperson for Calderdale Council said: “The salaries paid to Calderdale Council employees are in line with our pay policy. The salaries paid to managers and other specialist staff are in line with the roles’ duties and responsibilities.

“We continue to look at where we can reduce spend across the organisation at the same time as delivering vital services for local people.”

The Examiner contacted Kirklees Council and several councillors. They failed to respond.