With council tax bills rising for millions of households across England today, we have looked at the salaries of the town hall bosses in areas home to the sharpest increases.
According to the County Councils Network, most councils in England were expected to raise council tax bills by the maximum permitted amount.
For councils responsible for social care, this limit is 4.99 per cent without requiring a local referendum.
In London, all but three local authorities are increasing bills by 4.99 per cent.
Smaller councils without social care duties can raise bills by up to 2.99 per cent.
The town hall bosses of the six councils slapping highest tax rises on Britons all had earnings that exceeded £100,000 in 2023/24
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For the 2025-26 financial year, the Government has allowed six areas to implement higher increases (see map).
Bradford Council raised council tax by 10 per cent, which equates to £205, while Newham and Windsor and Maidenhead saw increases of nine per cent, a total rise of £174 and £151 respectively.
Meanwhile, Birmingham, Somerset, and Trafford each implemented a 7.5 per cent rise, amounting to £156, £170 and £146 respectively.
Using new survey data from the TaxPayers’ Alliance, we have compiled a list of the salaries of the town hall bosses in these areas.
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Somerset Council implemented a 7.5 per cent rise, amounting to £170
Wikimedia CommonsBradford Council's Strategic Director of Corporate Resources Joanne Hyde took home £158,342 in 2023/24, while Newham's Chief Executive Officer Colin Ansel was paid £195,473.
Windsor and Maidenhead's Chief Executive Stephen Evans' remuneration came to 177,080 while Trafford's Chief Executive Sara Todd took home £190,446.
The highest paid was Birmingham City Council's Managing Director Joanne Roney, who earned a salary of £295,000, followed by Somerset Council's Duncan Sharkey on £206,870.
The survey data also reveals that at least 3,906 council employees received a total remuneration of £100,000 or more in 2023/24.
This is 801, or 26 per cent, more compared to 2022-23. Of these, 1,092 received at least £150,000 in total remuneration, 264, or 32 per cent, more than 2022-23.
This is the largest number of people in receipt of at least £100,000 or £150,000 in total remuneration since the Town Hall Rich List began in 2007.
Meanwhile, for the average (band D) property, taxpayers in England will have to pay a council tax rise of five per cent, or an extra £109, in 2025-26.
In Wales, there will be an average increase of 7.2 per cent, or an extra £145. Scottish taxpayers are also facing council tax rises in every authority, with an average increase of 8.8 per cent, or an additional £125. All local authorities in Northern Ireland will increase their district rates in 2025-26.
