‘Temp’ is paid more than Westminster Council chief executive Mike More - Finance ministers accused of "throwing money away"

Published: 30 April 2010
by JAMIE WELHAM

FINANCE bosses at City Hall have been accused of “throwing money away”, after it emerged a temp is being paid £900 a day. 

David Loseby picks up £4,500 a week as a temporary contractor for Westminster Council – equivalent to £216,000 a year – more than council chief executive Mike More. He has been working for the council since May last year, responsible for overseeing its contracts.

Trade union members and opposition leaders have condemned the deal, given the current pay-freeze and following on from hundreds of redundancies.

Labour group leader Paul Dimoldenberg said the council “had lost control” of the its finances. He said: “Westminster Conservatives are spending council tax-payers’ money like confetti. Over 300 jobs have been lost at City Hall over recent months because of the council’s cash crisis, yet the Conservatives can happily pay out £900 a day to someone working on a temporary contract. 

“Millions of pounds are being wasted by Westminster Conservatives on highly paid temporary staff and we are pledged to cut at least £3million from £12million-a-year currently spent on  agency staff.”

A Unison spokesman said: “Westminster Council is burning money daily on exorbitant contractor fees at the same time as making posts redundant.”

Alastair Gilchrist, the council’s director of resources, said: “If you want to employ the best staff then you have to pay competitive salaries. We are, of course, aware of the very difficult economic climate that many residents and businesses are experiencing.”