The chief executive of Bracknell Forest Council received a higher annual salary last year than the Prime Minister, figures from the TaxPayers’ Alliance reveal. 

The data shows that Timothy Wheadon took home a salary of £188,000 per annum in 2021, £26,599 more than Boris’s Johnson’s £161,401 yearly earnings. 

The difference between the two is just £6,401 less than the total average annual earnings of £33,000 which Bracknell residents receive. 

This is against the backdrop of a 4.4 per cent rise in this year’s council tax bills, the highest increase in the area. 

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The figures also show that eight other council employees were awarded salaries in excess of £100,000, including the executive director for delivery (£140,000), the executive director for resources (£120,000), the executive director for place, planning and regeneration (£113,000) and the assistant director of education and learning (£114,000). 

On education, government performance data for 2021 indicates that the proportion of children who secure a grade five or above in English, Maths, Science, a humanity and language GCSE in Bracknell Forest is 29 per cent – 10 per cent below the national average for state-funded schools - specifically regarding languages. 

Chief Executive, Timothy Wheadon, said: “The Tax Payers Alliance is a lobby group which produces these comparisons every year.  They make good headlines but are not like for like comparisons. 

"The Prime Minister, for example, in addition to the quoted salary, receives free accommodation and various other in kind payments. Information about salaries of all senior council staff, including the Chief Executive, has always been publicly available. 

"This information includes all payments before tax and other deductions.  Our salaries are set to be competitive in the market so that we can attract good staff."

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On council tax rises Wheadon said: “The council is acutely aware of financial pressures that all families are facing.  That is one reason why, despite the increase in council tax this year, we have one of the five lowest council tax levels of all unitary councils in the country. 

"This year’s budget also included additional support for families receiving council tax benefits which was funded by the council completely separately from and in addition to the government scheme to provide band A – D council tax payers with a £150 one off payment towards increasing energy bills.”

Wokingham Borough Council has six employees who earned annual salaries greater than £100,000 over the same period. The largest again being the chief executive, Susan Parsonage, who took home £150,000 – on top of £478 in expenses and a £34,500 pension. 

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Other notable high earners included the deputy chief executive (£120,000), the director of children's services (£112,695), the director of adult social care and health (£112,695) and two ‘undisclosed’ job roles (£100,000). 

A spokesperson from Wokingham Borough Council said: “Wokingham Borough Council provides hundreds of services to more than 170,000 residents, with annual gross expenditure of over £400m a year and over 1,300 employees. 

“With the ever-increasing pressure on our resources, it’s critical we can continue to attract the best people to work for the council. Making sure we can support our residents and provide the services they need, whilst achieving best value for the money we spend. 

“We have a slim management structure in place and regularly review our pay levels with our senior management rates comparative, and in several cases lower, than neighbouring Berkshire Authorities.” 

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At least 2,921 people employed by local authorities nationally were paid more than £100,000 last year, an increase of 119 on the previous year. 

The report shows 739 received more than £150,000, 46 more than the previous year.