Tough at the Top
The Scottish press has finally tumbled on to a 'Spanish practice' - which allows council chiefs to pocket tens of thousands of pounds in 'responsibility' payments - for working just one extra night.
The chief executives of Scottish councils - who are appointed as Returning Officers on election nights are paid this extra bonus - for overseeing the election and announcing the results.
And while they're doing this job - they're also being paid for their day jobs - which are worth up to £170,000 a year.
Apparently around £200,000 was paid out in bonuses to Scotland's chief executives last May - for declaring results at the Westminster elections.
Glasgow's chief executive - George Black - will receive an extra £44,000 on top of his normal £170,000 salary
The top-up of £44,000 is fully pensionable and will be used to calculate his tax free lump sum and annual pension - would you believe.
The basic principle here is that if people are being paid handsomely for one job - out of the public purse - they really shouldn't be getting paid for doing the same job twice over.
The rules of the final salary pension scheme mean that these payments are worth very much more than their face value - because they go on for years.
And they benefit only the most senior officials - who are already well paid for what they do.
The chief executives of Scottish councils - who are appointed as Returning Officers on election nights are paid this extra bonus - for overseeing the election and announcing the results.
And while they're doing this job - they're also being paid for their day jobs - which are worth up to £170,000 a year.
Apparently around £200,000 was paid out in bonuses to Scotland's chief executives last May - for declaring results at the Westminster elections.
Glasgow's chief executive - George Black - will receive an extra £44,000 on top of his normal £170,000 salary
The top-up of £44,000 is fully pensionable and will be used to calculate his tax free lump sum and annual pension - would you believe.
The basic principle here is that if people are being paid handsomely for one job - out of the public purse - they really shouldn't be getting paid for doing the same job twice over.
The rules of the final salary pension scheme mean that these payments are worth very much more than their face value - because they go on for years.
And they benefit only the most senior officials - who are already well paid for what they do.
