Dorset Council Proposes £15,000 Bonuses to Hire and Retain Fat Cat Officers

In a stunning display of extravagance and disregard for taxpayer dollars, Dorset Council is proposing to offer bonus payments of up to £15,000 to attract and retain senior officers. Despite the fact that nearly 30 senior posts are already on pay scales above £92,300 per year, the council claims that filling these positions has become increasingly difficult and current pay ranges are not competitive enough.

To remedy this, the council is proposing "a market forces premium" of up to £15,000 extra per year, but only where there is evidence of a difficulty to recruit or retain senior officers and when other authorities are offering higher salaries. The proposed bonus would be granted on a case by case basis, but existing chief officers will not see an immediate change in their individual salaries.

Meanwhile, the lowest paid Dorset staff earn the equivalent of £20,258 per year, with roles including catering assistants and school crossing patrol staff. For chief officers, the salary range varies greatly, with the Chief Executive earning £174,458 and executive directors and directors of public health earning between £129,577 and £145,534. All of these positions come with the expectation of working beyond the nominal 37 hours per week and come with additional benefits such as removal and associated expenses, performance bonuses, and salary protection in cases of redundancy or reorganization.

At a time when the public sector is facing budget cuts and economic uncertainty, it is hard to justify the council's proposed lavish spending on senior officers. The council should consider the financial impact of these proposed bonuses on the taxpayer and prioritize spending that directly benefits the community.