Council bosses lift pay cap on local authority top earners despite facing huge spending cuts

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Council leaders have agreed to lift a pay cap on local authority chief executives and other high earning staffThey have axed the curb despite a deal with the Scottish Government to limit rises for the better off.Scotland was hit by a wave of strike action by council staff last year over a bitter pay dispute.The industrial action led to Edinburgh becoming an international laughing stock after streets were left overflowing with rubbish.The strike ended after the SNP/Green Government provided more cash which ensured every staff member got at least £1900.However, any rise for staff on £60,000 or more was capped at £3,000.The Record can reveal council chiefs have lifted the cap to ensure the highest paid will get a five per cent hike.Under the previous deal, a council chief executive on £120,000 a year would have received £3,000, but will now get £6,000.A spokesperson for COSLA, which represents councils, said: “Scotland’s Chief Executives and Chief Officials do an extremely challenging and important job and are entitled to be fairly remunerated for their efforts.“In many areas of Scotland, Councils are the biggest employer and main provider of a wide range of essential services locally.“The pay increase for senior officers this year is five per cent – no better or worse than other Council employees.“Scotland’s Council Leaders at their meeting on Friday decided that there should be no cap in the pay offers to these officials and managers.

This recognises the critical jobs they do managing the delivery of our essential services.” More follows To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here. SNP has 'no obvious successor' to Nicola Sturgeon as support for independence hovers around 50% British Gas profits