Councillor says "emphatic no" to Salford's £72,000 comms chief
A Conservative councillor has issued an outspoken tirade at Salford Council’s plans to recruit a new communications chief on a £72,000 salary, a wage greater than that of the town’s Mayor.
Opposition leader Karen Garrido
Opposition leader Karen Garrido opposed the hire due to the austerity measures currently affecting the region.
“In these times of reducing budgets, should spending £72,000 on a communications assistant director be a priority? The answer is an emphatic no,” she said.
The council recently announced 150 job cuts in a bid to save £23.4 million from the budget.
The Council has been without a fixed communications chief since the previous incumbent resigned last year.
The arrival of the BBC at Salford Quays and the implementation of austerity measures are cited in the advert as justification for the scope of the riole.
“Things are happening in Salford - the BBC has moved into MediaCityUK and ITV completed the first phase of its move in March,” the advert reads.
“The people of Salford elected their first-ever City Mayor in May 2012 with a whole new way of governing the City.
“As austerity bites, there are daily challenges in providing top quality services for local people.”
The Chief Executive of Salford Council, Barbara Spicer said: “The wage offered is in line with similar public sector posts and lower than the wage previously offered to director of communications level.”
The closing date for applications is today.