PUBLIC servants at councils across the North-East and North Yorkshire were paid a total of up to £7m between 2013 and 2014, while an NHS executive received a £1.26m pay package.
The statistics, a result of 6,000 Freedom of Information requests from the Daily Mail and the Taxpayers' Alliance, revealed that 146 council employees in the North-East earned more than £100,000 while 26 staff earned at least £150,000.
The highest paid council employee was Jill Stannard, former chief executive at Cumbria County Council with £411,025 - which is 16 times the average wage in Cumbria. Cumbria County Council were unavailable for comment.
Northumberland City Council's chief executive earned £316,684 and Sunderland Council's chief executive received £231,657.
It was also revealed that Tricia Hart, 59, chief executive of South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, whose salary was about £225,000, received a £1.26 million pay package thanks to pension benefits.
A trust spokesman said: “Prof Hart’s pension reflects her 41 years of service in the NHS, with her previous roles including eight years as director of nursing and four years as deputy chief executive."
Jonathan Isaby, chief executive of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said: “After more than a decade of reckless spending and council tax hikes, local politicians now have to make necessary savings and the pay and perks for the town hall elite have to come under the spotlight.
"We all deserve to know how our money is being spent, and taxpayers should have the right to decide if they are getting value for their money from public servants.”
Durham County Council
Top earners - chief executive George Garlick (£215,408) to be replaced by director of neighbourhoods Terry Collins (£158,340)
Employees earning over £100,000 – 24.
Employees earning over £150,000 - five.
Darlington Borough Council
Top earner - chief executive Ada Burns (£182,158)
Employees earning over £100,000 – five.
Middlesbrough Council
Top earners - chief executive Gill Rollings (£208,507) director of legal and democratic service Richard Long (£199,480)
Employees earning over £100,000 – eight.
Employees earning over £150,000 - three.
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
Top earners - chief executive officer Neil Schneider (£185,839) corporate director of resources Julie Danks (£154,393) corporate director of children, education and social care Jane Humphreys (£150,875)
Employees earning over £100,000 – 17.
Employees earning over £150,000 - three.
Redcar and Cleveland Council
Top earner - chief executive (£167,170) name withheld
Employees earning over £100,000 – ten.
North Yorkshire County Council
Top earners - chief executive Richard Flinton (£201,331) corporate director of children and young people's service Peter Dwyere (£153,967)
Employees earning over £100,000 – 17.
Employees earning over £150,000 - two.
Hambleton District Council
Top earner - director of customer services Sandra Walbran (£194,713)
Employees earning over £100,000 – two.
Gateshead Council
Top earner - chief executive Jane Robinson (£188,105)
Employees earning over £100,000 – 14.
South Tyneside Council
Top earner - chief executive Martin Swales (£174,602)
Employees earning over £100,000 – eight.
York City Council
Top earners - director of public health and wellbeing Paul Edmondson-Jones (£169,000) chief executive Kersten England (£164,000)
Employees earning over £100,000 – five.
Cumbria County Council:
Top earners - former chief executive Jill Stannard (£411,025) corporate director, children's services Julia Morrison (£228,509) corporate director, Safer and Stronger, Dominic Harrison (£180,357) chief executive of resources Diane Wood (£156,357)
Employees earning over £100,000 – 25.
Employees earning over £150,000 - four.
Employees earning over £200,000 – two.
Northumberland County Council
Top earners - chief executive Steve Stewart (£316,684) deputy chief executive Kate Roe (£246,775) corporate director of children's services, Paul Moffatt (£243,605) lead executive director of corporate resources Steven Mason (£161,360) executive director wellbeing and community health services Daljit Lally (£158,672)
Employees earning over £100,000 – 18.
Employees earning over £150,000 - five.
Employees earning over £200,000 – three.
Sunderland Council
Top earner - chief executive Dave Smith (£231,657)
Employees earning over £100,000 – 16.
Newcastle City Council
Top earners - £226,673 and £191,904 names withheld
Employees earning over £100,000 – 13.
Employees earning over £150,000 - five.
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