Pay comparison is totally bogus

18 Mar 2011, 14:48 Add Comment

As debate has raged in recent weeks about the coalition government's cuts agenda, the issue of pay in the public sector, particularly for senior officers, has become a topic of hot debate.

Among those who have seen their salaries quoted in local, regional and national media on more than one occasion have been the chief executives of Liverpool and Manchester City Councils.

The Liverpool head honcho, Ged Fitzgerald, spoke at a Downtown event earlier this week, and took the issue on in forthright terms. He pointed out, quite rightly, that to compare his salary with that of the Prime Minister's, the government spin doctors favourite wheeze at the moment, was like comparing apples and oranges. He (Fitzgerald) is appointed, not elected; he does not have grace and favour perks (i.e. Chequers, chauffer driven cars and private jets); and he will not be paid hundreds of thousands of pounds for his memoirs or to go on the lucrative speaking circuit when he leaves office.

It was a robust and compelling argument that needed to be articulated - but it was only half of the story.

It seems to me somewhat perverse that a government that is decrying local government ineptitude and inefficiency should focus on the salary of a man who is arguably the best chief executive in the country. That Sir Howard Bernstein should be seen as fair game for Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles and his cronies is absurd. The suggestion that Bernstein's six-figure salary should be frowned upon demonstrates that this public sector cull is more political than the coalition would have us believe.

Any city that has enjoyed the transformation, regeneration and investment that Manchester has witnessed during Bernstein's time at the helm of the local council should be getting plaudits, not criticism, from serious politicians.

The clarity and consistency of leadership Bernstein, aided and abetted for sure by strong political support, is admired right across the North West and beyond.

Had Sir Howard delivered the sort of results he has achieved for Manchester in the private sector, then he would be getting paid bonuses that only city bankers and premier league footballers can expect.

Politicians, whatever their political colour, should be celebrating Bernstein's and Manchester's performance, and encouraging all local authorities to find equally effective leadership. However, personalities like Sir Howard Bernstein are not easy to find - and they don't come cheap.

If we are not to see public service and local government sink into mediocrity or worse, then this nonsensical, cynical and dogmatic attack on the quality people operating in the public sector has to cease.

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