Pickles told council chief executives to cut their pay by 5% if they earned more than the Prime Minister’s salary of £150,000, or by 10% if they earned more than £200,000. The Times reports only seven council chief executives nationwide have cut their salaries.

Sheffield City Council’s Chief Executive, John Mothersole has yet to announce a cut in his salary of £184,585. On Christmas Eve, Mr Mothersole announced a pay freeze for all council workers earning more than £21,000 a year.

The council employs more than 18,000 staff, around 45% of whom earn more than £20,000 a year.

Grant Shapps, Mr Pickles deputy, today called for high paid council execs to lead by example  http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2011/jan/04/politics-live-blog :

“We’re not asking the top paid chief executives, there are 129 of them earning more than the prime minister, we’re not asking them to do anything more than we’ve done as ministers. Every minister in this government has taken a 5% cut, and a five-year pay freeze. I think if you are expecting people to take some very difficult decisions throughout a local authority, then it’s right to lead from the top.”

Mr Mothersole forfeited his £20,000 returning officer fee in May  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/8674891.stm , and apologised for mistakes which led to long queues at polling stations for the general election, and hundreds being turned away.