CORNWALL Council is to renegotiate the pay and conditions of its top earners, the West Briton can reveal.

Council leader Alec Robertson said the talks formed the first phase of a root and branch review of all of the authority's most senior officers.

It could signal an end to massive pay-outs to people who leave the authority voluntarily, as highlighted in last week's West Briton.

And Cllr Robertson has said he intends to start the review at the top with chief executive Kevin Lavery and other directors.

It is believed Mr Lavery – the 28th highest paid council CEO in the country – is already in negotiations that could see his package slashed by around 10 per cent. It would also include a downgrading of mileage allowances, pension contributions and severance agreements.

Mr Lavery currently earns around £200,000 a year but last year collected £238,000.

Full details of the reduction in his payments will be unveiled in November when the council unveils its emergency budget.

The move comes after pressure from local MPs – and The West Briton's coverage about the gilded packages enjoyed by top level staff.

Mr Robertson said: "As part of our drive to save money, staff pay and conditions are all under review.

"It goes without saying this starts at the top and the chief executive's pay and conditions obviously form part of that review."

His comments come as Communities Secretary Eric Pickles slammed the level of pay-offs given to top-level council employees – many of whom walk straight into other public-sector jobs

Mr Pickles said: "It's not right for people to retire from the public sector with a huge pay-off then cash in with another six-figure salary elsewhere at the taxpayers expense.

'Excess'

"There is growing public concern about the massive payoffs being given to town hall chief executives and senior staff. Six-figure payoffs aren't justifiable when local government workers are in the middle of a pay freeze.

"We need to curb a culture of excess in local government which is why we will require councils to publish more information online on the pay and perks of senior staff, and allow elected councillors to veto high pay packets."

George Eustice, MP for Camborne, Redruth and Hayle, said: "The civil service provides a better guide to the right salary for local authority chief executives. The Permanent Secretary of a typical government department is on around £150,000. There is no logical reason why the pay of a council chief should be paid more than this.

"Across the country they are regularly paid £100,000 a year more than the Prime Minister. How can that be right? Such high levels of pay are not driven by the market, it is more the case that a high pay culture has been allowed to develop over the last decade and this must now be quashed."

Sarah Newton, Conservative MP for Truro and Falmouth, praised Mr Robertson for taking a lead on the issue.

She said: "I think these 'golden hellos' and 'golden goodbyes' belong in the past.

"There is no need for them. People are paid good salaries for doing a good job and that should be enough.

"It is more difficult where people have them written into contracts already, but where possible they should be renegotiating existing contracts to get rid of them.

"I'm really pleased that Alec Robertson has shown real leadership and has said he will deal with this."

Victory

West Briton editor Richard Best said: "This is not a victory for this newspaper but a victory for Cornish council taxpayers who deserve the best deal for their money, especially in difficult times."

● See George Eustice, page 8; West Briton Comment page 40.