Big money for what exactly?

Published: 1 July, 2010

• I HAVE read with concern that Ms Moira Gibb, CEO of Camden Council, is paid a salary of £199.961 plus a Performance Bonus of £15,997.

Not only is such a salary excessive for running a mere council (greater than that of the Prime Minister who runs a country) but also what possible justification can there be for paying a performance award of £15,997 in addition?

How is such an award assessed and who is responsible for assessing it?

Council income is derived from local rates and government grants, not as in the case of a business where income has to be earned and where the CEO’s performance can be measured accordingly – ie, no increase in profits equals no bonus.

Recently, residents in this area were outraged to find that Keats Library in Downshire Hill had been given an expensive and entirely uncalled for “makeover”.

Long-serving, much-loved staff have either been dismissed or arbitrarily moved to other mundane jobs.

Protests made at the time and which continue to have the status quo ante restored have been ignored.

Is this the kind of high-handed, arrogant action for which Ms Gibb is thought worthy of receiving a “performance bonus”?

It is high time the salaries and conditions of service enjoyed by these public sector fat-cats were subjected to scrutiny and revision and brought more into line with the private sector.

KA Brett
Heath Street, NW3