North East councils' top earners named in latest Town Hall Rich List
The number of North East council employees earning more than £100,000 increased to more than 150 last year.
According to the latest figures compiled in the TaxPayers’ Alliance’s annual Town Hall Rich List, our region had 151 local authority workers who were paid at least £100,000 in 2024/25 – eight more than the previous year.
The highest pay packet was the £258,964 awarded to Durham County Council chief executive John Hewitt, who runs the North East’s biggest council.
Northumberland County Council recorded the highest number of top earners, with 27 of its staff above the £100,000 mark. Highest was chief executive Helen Paterson, £222,251.
Nationally, a record 4,733 council employees received over £100,000 remuneration in 2024/25.
John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, claimed that the numbers showed a “surging class of council bosses enjoying six-figure packages, even as they plead poverty, slash frontline services, and hike council tax bills far beyond inflation”.
However, Northumberland County Council said that its salaries were determined through a “rigorous” process to “offer the best value for money for the taxpayer while being competitive enough to attract and retain the high-calibre leadership necessary to deliver critical public services”.
A Northumberland County Council spokesperson said: “This information is available all year round as part of our transparency and annual accounts on the council’s website. As one of the largest counties in the country and the largest in the North East, Northumberland County Council manages more than 800 frontline services over a wide geographical area.
“The salaries paid to our senior staff, including our fire and rescue service which many councils do not have, are a direct reflection of the significant responsibilities, specialist skills, and extensive experience required to lead an organisation of this scale. Our senior public sector salaries are determined through a rigorous benchmarking process which ensures that the pay scales offer the best value for money for the taxpayer while being competitive enough to attract and retain the high-calibre leadership necessary to deliver critical public services.”
North Tyneside Council had 13 employees above £100,000. Highest was chief executive Paul Hanson (left in January 2025), £165,688.