Wiltshire Council reveals number of employees earning over £100k amid debate on salaries
TaxPayers’ Alliance highlights rise in high earners as Town Hall Rich List is published
The annual Town Hall Rich List, published by the TaxPayers’ Alliance, reveals that six Wiltshire Council employees earned over £100,000 during the 2024-25 financial year.
However, Wiltshire Council's own statistics indicate that 25 employees received total remuneration exceeding £100,000 during this period.
Among the high earners is chief executive Lucy Townsend, with a salary of £180,933.
Corporate director of place Parvis Khansari earned £146,807, while director of legal and governance Perry Holmes and director of public health Kate Blackburn both received £127,137.
Director of HR and organisational development Tamsin Kielb's salary was £102,262, and former chief executive Terence Herbert, in post until August 2024, earned £90,499 of his annual £191,888 salary.
The top salaries in Wiltshire compare to neighbouring authorities with Swindon Borough Council’s Sam Mowbray earning £179,819, and Hampshire's CEO Carolyn Williamson receiving £252,317.
The TaxPayers’ Alliance criticised the surge in high salaries among council bosses across the country, reporting 4,733 staff earning more than £100,000—a 21% increase from the previous year.
John O’Connell, chief executive of the organisation, commented on the imbalance between burgeoning public sector salaries and ongoing tax burdens for residents.
He argued that senior council leaders enjoy substantial packages alongside reduced frontline services and increased council taxes.
Defending the earning levels, Tamsin Kielb emphasised the scope of responsibilities held by senior roles in overseeing multi-million pound budgets.
She stated that competitive salaries were necessary to attract skilled candidates and ensured responsible use of public funds.
Kielb highlighted that when compared to senior salaries in the private sector, public sector roles offer taxpayers value for money.
In the 2024-25 financial year, the average salary in Wiltshire was £36,597, while FTSE 100 chief executives’ packages averaged around £4.6 million according to the High Pay Centre.
The unfolding debate underscores discussions on balancing fair compensation for critical public sector roles with fiscal responsibility to taxpayers.