Yahoo News Solihull Council chief who quit after Arthur murder condemnation earned almost double the PM
A former council boss who quit after damning criticism of child safety services following the murder of a six-year-old boy received nearly double the Prime Minister's wage in his final year in the role. Nick Page, who quit as Solihull's chief executive in January 2023, was among the country's top-earning local authority officers, according to a study by The Taxpayers' Alliance.
Mr Page, who had been in post for eight years, resigned days after the council was criticised in a damning report into children services after the murder of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes. Mr Page was paid a salary of £136,270. He also received expenses/benefits of £2,108; compensation for loss in office of £159,825 and a pension of £28,208.
Mr Page received a total of £326,411, placing him 13th in TTA’s highest-remunerated local authority employees in the country between 2022 and 2023. The TTA said in the same period the Prime Minister received a salary of £164,951.
Arthur was murdered in 2020 after being abused by his father and his partner in Solihull. An Ofsted report released in January 2023 said children in Solihull were not getting the help they needed while inspectors had “identified serious and widespread failings across all service areas.” That month Mr Page said he had decided to leave after "34 years in public service" adding it had been an "honour and privilege to serve our elected members and residents".
Elsewhere in the council, Paul Johnson, who was acting chief executive/director of resources and deputy chief executive, earned a salary of £150,234 and a pension of £31,098 - a total of £181,332 that financial year. He was appointed permanent chief executive last summer.
Three other Solihull employees made the list. The director of adult care and support received a salary of £132,481; the director of economy and infrastructure received the same amount while the director of public health received £129,467.
A Solihull Council spokesperson said: “With regards to Nick Page’s circumstances statutory guidance was issued under Section 26 of the Local Government Action 1999, which came into effect in May 2022 which sets out obligations placed on local authorities when making severance payments. Solihull Council complied with these requirements which included obtaining agreement for this payment from two independent persons appointed under the Localism Act 2011.
"The council’s senior salaries are determined by the remuneration committee, which formulates and recommends to council a pay policy for the remuneration of the chief executive, directors and heads of service, having particular regard to the council’s strategic objectives, equality duties and the need for transparency of process.”
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