Swansea Council Fat Cats

One of the top news stories today is about the number of UK council employees earning over £100k.
This has increased by 14% for year 2008-9 to a record 1250 employees earning over £100,000, with 31 earning more than the prime minister.

How can this be justified in these economic times?
How can Cardiff council decide to renumerate their Chief Executive £207,500 (that's over £13,000 more than the prime minister).  Does Cardiff have bigger issues or is it of more benefit to the UK as a whole?
Some how I don't think so.

Which brings us on to whether any Swansea council employees make the list of 1250. Page 170 of the report shows that 4 of Swansea council chiefs earned over £100,000 during 2008-9.

Name	Position	Renumeration	Percentage Increase
Paul Smith	Chief Executive	£157,158	5.3%
Jack Straw	Corporate Director (Resources)	£122,348	6.4%
Reena Owen	Corporate Director (Environment)	£104,738	3.4%
Philip Roberts	Corporate Director (Regeneration & Housing)	£108,030	5.5%

Swansea council has 2 other directors : Richard Parry (Education) and Chris Maggs (Social Services), so you would expct them to be not far off the £100k level too.

When Chris Holley talks of cutbacks in the council, then lets hope he also looks at trimming some of the fat from highest levels as I cannot see how the council can justify paying almost £½ million pounds to just 4 people.