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The row over making council chief executive salaries public has been dismissed as ‘a storm in a teacup' by the sector's leaders. Published just as the row over MPs' pay and perks deepened, the proposals claimed new disclosure rules would ‘bring councils up to the same high standards already required of civil servants and government ministers'. John Healey salary/expenses 2007/08 Cost of staying away from main home £18,674 Office running costs £24,894 Staffing costs £84,204 Stationery £1,099 Postage costs £2,258 IT provision £1,376 Commons Allowance £4,826 Total £137,331 Ministerial salary £104, 050 Total £241, 381 Source: Houses of Parliament But local government minister, John Healey, was told by the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE) that members were unanimously in favour of publishing their pay deals. It followed Mr Healey's launch of a consultation to change the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2003 to publish details of local government's top earners. The prime minister added pressure this week by announcing a curb on the salaries of top Whitehall civil servants. But SOLACE director general, David Clark, claimed the consultation was ‘a political game' and told The MJ his members were more worried about helping their communities cope with the recession. ‘It's a storm in a teacup. If the minister had just asked to publish the salaries, we would have done it. He's pushing on an open door from our point of view and, in the current climate, there are bigger things to worry about.' Local Government Employers called for a widening of accountability by revealing the pay of all top earners in the public sector, including quangos and Whitehall. Chairman, Sir Steve Bullock, said: ‘In these tough times, it is only right that everyone gets to see how much is paid to the people who help deliver their local services. This microscope must also turn on all those who work in senior jobs in the rest of the public sector, quangos and central government.' Under plans by the CLG, around 2,500 leading council employees will have their salaries, perks and pensions made available to the public. This would mean everything from salaries, bonuses, pensions and redundancy pay-offs to private cars, chauffeurs and accommodation would have to be made public in an annual report. Mr Healey said: ‘It's right that councils decide the wages for their staff but the public pay and they have the right to see the full picture of top pay and perks. ‘Councils are big organisations with a tough job – they need the best people in charge. But we've recently seen top salaries rising far faster than the rest of local government, with some councils swapping managers like premiership football clubs.'

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WHITEHALL

MPs' allowances row dwarfs top pay rules

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