Town Hall rich list

April 18, 2026

The number of North East council employees earning more than £100,000 increased to more than 150 last year, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Daniel Holland.

According to the latest figures compiled in the TaxPayers’ Alliance’s annual Town Hall Rich List, our region had 151 local authority workers who were paid at least £100,000 in 2024/25 – eight more than the previous year.

The highest pay packet was the £258,964 awarded to Durham County Council chief executive John Hewitt, who runs the North East’s biggest council.

Northumberland County Council recorded the highest number of top earners, with 27 of its staff above the £100,000 mark.

Nationally, a record 4,733 council employees received over £100,000 remuneration in 2024/25.

John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, claimed that the numbers showed a “surging class of council bosses enjoying six-figure packages, even as they plead poverty, slash frontline services, and hike council tax bills far beyond inflation”.

However, Northumberland County Council said that its salaries were determined through a “rigorous” process to “offer the best value for money for the taxpayer while being competitive enough to attract and retain the high-calibre leadership necessary to deliver critical public services”.

Durham County Council, too, said its large size meant it was “inevitable” that its salaries would be higher than some areas and pointed out that its council tax rate is increasing by only 1.99% this year, rather than the maximum allowed 4.99%.

Here is a breakdown of how many employees there were on more than £100,000 at each of our region’s councils and their top earners’ total remuneration in 2024/25, some of which include pension contributions and returning officer election payments:

Durham County Council – Nine above £100,000. Highest remuneration was chief executive John Hewitt, £258,964;
Northumberland County Council – 27 above £100,000. Highest was chief executive Helen Paterson, £222,251;
Newcastle City Council – 10 above £100,000. Highest was chief executive Pam Smith, £202,347;
Gateshead Council – Eight above £100,000. Highest was chief executive Dale Owens, £187,366;
Sunderland City Council – 16 above £100,000. Highest was chief executive Patrick Melia, £246793;
South Tyneside Council – 12 above £100,000. Highest was chief executive Jonathan Tew, £230,425;
North Tyneside Council – 13 above £100,000. Highest was chief executive Paul Hanson (left in January 2025), £165,688;
Hartlepool Council – Seven above £100,000. Highest was managing director Denise McGuckin, £187,904;
Middlesbrough Council – Nine above £100,000. Highest was executive director of children’s services, Joe Tynan, £151,515;
Redcar and Cleveland Council – 15 above £100,000. Highest was managing director John Sampson, £167,759;
Stockton-on-Tees Council – 15 above £100,000. Highest was chief executive Mike Greene, £200,344;
Darlington Council – 11 above £100,000. Highest was chief executive Ian Williams, £194,055.

The Taxpayers’ Alliance analysis also claims that Gateshead charges the highest council tax rate in the country, with Northumberland and Newcastle also in the top ten.

However, that comparison is based on the annual charge for a Band D household.

The majority of residents in Gateshead are in Band A properties, which are charged at a lower rate.

A Northumberland County Council spokesperson said: “This information is available all year round as part of our transparency and annual accounts on the council’s website. As one of the largest counties in the country and the largest in the North East, Northumberland County Council manages more than 800 frontline services over a wide geographical area.

“The salaries paid to our senior staff, including our fire and rescue service which many councils do not have, are a direct reflection of the significant responsibilities, specialist skills, and extensive experience required to lead an organisation of this scale. Our senior public sector salaries are determined through a rigorous benchmarking process which ensures that the pay scales offer the best value for money for the taxpayer while being competitive enough to attract and retain the high-calibre leadership necessary to deliver critical public services.”

Durham County Council said that, as the North East’s biggest council, it was “inevitable that our authority’s salary numbers will be higher than those of smaller councils”.

A spokesperson added: “The salaries of all senior managers, including that of the chief executive, were individually assessed prior to the creation of the unitary authority in 2009 and it was ensured that the levels of pay were reflective of the responsibilities involved. This saved more than £3.6 million in senior management costs when the eight former councils were brought together.

“Since then, we have continued to make savings where appropriate to provide the best value for money for all our residents. This has allowed us to avoid increasing council tax by 4.99 per cent this year, with council tax in County Durham only being increased by 1.99 per cent, in comparison to local authorities nationally.”