Edinburgh council firm boss awarded 'outrageous' £72,280 bonus during cost of living crisis

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The chief executive of a firm owned by Edinburgh City Council has been handed a £72,280 bonus while the local authority faces spending cuts.Marshall Dallas of the Edinburgh International Conference Centre also enjoyed a near 50 per cent rise in his total remuneration package.Green MSP Maggie Chapman said: “This is outrageous, especially at a time when the city’s council workers, event staff and others are struggling simply to make ends meet on a day to day basis.”After a chaotic round of negotiations, Edinburgh councillors approved a budget in February based on £80m of cuts.It included a 5pc council tax rise, a rent hike for tenants and cuts to education.Over £30m in cuts were then made to Edinburgh’s health and social care budget, leaving campaigners in tears.According to council documents, Dallas enjoyed remuneration of £230,991, up from £157,326 the previous year.His salary was up marginally from 2021 but his overall package was boosted by the bonus.The EICC is ultimately owned by Edinburgh City Council and operates at arm's length as an independent commercial venture.Built in 1995, it operates as a prime conference venue and has welcomed 1.5 million delegates from more than 120 countries.Cammy Day, the Labour leader of the council, said: “These pay awards are a matter for EICC’s board. "However, I do not agree with bonuses like this in arms’ length companies.

As a council we have publicly discussed and strongly urge restraint amongst these companies with regard to bonuses. I will stress this to the board and have asked officers to look into this situation.”SNP MP Tommy Sheppard said: "This seems like an eye-watering sum and it is not a good look.