New data from the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) has revealed that the number of senior council staff in Greater Manchester earning £100,000 or more has nearly doubled since 2021, placing Oldham among the boroughs where top salaries are under scrutiny.

The TPA’s ‘town hall rich list’ for 2024-25 identifies 175 posts across the region’s ten councils with such high earnings, up from 97 in 2021. Nationally, the figure has risen to 4,733, an increase of 827 from the previous year. This comes as many local authorities, including Oldham, face rising costs and pressure to maintain services while balancing budgets.

Manchester City Council tops the list with 35 high-paid roles, followed by Salford with 23 and Wigan with 22. Tameside has the fewest with six, and Bury has 16. All ten boroughs, including Oldham, are featured in the report, though individual figures for Oldham are not separately highlighted in the TPA summary.

The highest earner in the region is Manchester chief executive Tom Stannard, on £220,982 per year. In Wigan, chief executive Alison Mckenzie-Folan receives £205,000, while Bury’s chief executive Lynne Ridsdale earns £202,000. Salford’s chief executive is paid £180,000. Other senior roles at these councils, such as directors of children’s services and adult social care, also feature in the list with salaries above £160,000.

Manchester City Council defended the pay levels, with a spokesperson stating: “Manchester is one of the largest councils in the UK with an annual budget of more than £1bn. We pay in line with equivalent roles in other similar-sized councils to attract and retain the right skills.” Bury Council echoed this, noting that its chief executive holds multiple responsibilities, including roles within the NHS and Greater Manchester Combined Authority, which justifies the salary.

The TaxPayers’ Alliance argues that the rising number of high-earning council staff is concerning, particularly when many households are seeing council tax increases and service cuts. In Greater Manchester, several councils have recently raised bills and made budget reductions to address financial shortfalls.

For Oldham, the report highlights the ongoing debate about senior pay in local government. While the TPA data does not provide a specific breakdown for Oldham, the council’s senior management team is likely included in the regional total. Oldham Council, like its counterparts, has previously published its pay structure online in line with transparency requirements.

As Oldham residents face their own financial pressures, the ‘town hall rich list’ underscores the balance councils must strike between compensating senior staff and delivering value for council taxpayers.