THE leader of Northumberland County Council has said the authority is 'very close' to saving £1million from its wage bill, as he promised last year.

Councillor Glen Sanderson made the comments at Wednesday’s meeting of the council’s staff and appointments committee, as a range of appointments were made to some of the council’s high-up officer positions.

Following a restructure of the council’s senior management team agreed in April, there was a need to fill the roles of several chief and deputy chief officers.

A total of 28 roles needed to be filled, with successful candidates identified in 20 of those positions. These candidates are filled by a so-called “slot in” process, where existing members of staff who have a similar or the same role will take up the new job.

A further eight are being advertised both externally and internally to “ensure a competitive process is conducted and the best fit is secured." It is anticipated that the recruitment process will be completed by the end of June, with the further appointments expected in July.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Sanderson said: “We’re very close, if not there yet, to that saving I promised.”

Cllr Sanderson was referring to a pledge made in April last year, when it was revealed that 20 council employees were receiving more than £100,000 a year in total remuneration. At the time, Coun Sanderson explained that the figure was artificially high due to the council paying a number of interim officers in important positions.

At the committee, Labour leader Coun Scott Dickinson asked for clarity on the proposed paybands for the new roles. Senior HR manager Sarah Farrell laid out the figures for the meeting:

Band 14 – £71,511 – £82,100
Band 15 – £85,293 – £93,553
Band 16 – £96,416 – £105,006
Band 17 – £115,325 – £139,366

Of the new positions, 11 are at band 14, none at band 15, seven are at band 16, seven at band 17 and three will be paid by the NHS.