Local Councillor disputes top pension deal

COUNCILLOR STEPHEN SLOAN who represents the local South West Holderness Ward was the only member of an East Riding Council Review Panel to vote against approving spending over £360,000 so a senior officer can take early retirement.

£364,205 is the amount to be paid into the council's pension fund so that its highly paid corporate resources director, Sue Lockwood, can be paid her final pension.

Sue Lockwood reportedly receives a salary of between £117,000 - £123,000. What are seen by many people as generous salary and pension arrangements for top council officers have been put in place so that the East Riding Council can attract and retain high-quality staff. However, councillor Sloan disputed the case for staff retention in the Hull Daily Mail: 

"We were expressly told that by increasing these salaries we would be able to keep our best staff yet look what has happened. If we are now saying that it's fine for Sue Lockwood to leave early then what was the point of being told it was all about keeping our best staff ?"

It is expected that the decision taken by the council yesterday will be challenged through it's scrutiny committee process.

More on this story:

Yorkshire Post
Hull Daily Mail
Hull and East Riding Taxpayer's Alliance
East Yorkshire Eye challenges council over top pay awards