Penrith Town Council has been forced by government legislation over transparency to disclose that two of its six members of staff earn salaries of more than £50,000 a year each.
The disclosure comes as staffing costs continue to account for a significant proportion of the council's expenditure. Current figures show that the council's six employees collectively account for the £366,435 town council staffing budget representing approximately 75% of the annual precept paid by Penrith households through the town council element of their council tax bills.
Including salaries, National Insurance contributions and Local Government Pension Scheme payments, the council's staffing costs now average around £37,000 per month.
The council currently employs six members of staff following two resignations earlier this year. The workforce consists of a Town Clerk, Community Services Manager, Events Manager, Responsible Finance Officer and Planning Clerk, Solicitor, and Business Services Manager.
Despite the reduction in staff numbers following the resignations, a new position titled Council Support Officer is expected to be created later this year, with recruitment anticipated in the autumn with current staffing already costing council tax payer’s in Penrith more than the same time last year.
The disclosure also highlights a significant difference between Penrith Town Council and other town and parish councils across Westmorland and Furness. According to information released by local councils, Penrith Town Council is the only town or parish council in the area with any members staff earning more than £50,000 annually.
No staff members or clerks employed by the town councils in Kendal, Ulverston or Barrow receive salaries at that level according to disclosures by those councils.
While the town council has confirmed that two employees earn more than £50,000 each annually, it has not publicly identified which specific posts received the salary.
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