Record number of Lincolnshire council staff received six-figure pay in latest Town Hall Rich List

A record number of Lincolnshire council employees received six-figure pay deals last year, new figures reveal.

According to the TaxPayers' Alliance Town Hall Rich List 2025, 25 staff at Lincolnshire County Council received total remuneration exceeding £100,000 in 2023-24.

This is 11 more than the previous year and the joint highest number in the East Midlands, alongside West Northamptonshire.

Despite some notes that some staff in East Lindsey, Boston and South Holland were sharing roles and costs, the list includes more than 50 people across Lincolnshire’s county and district councils, with a further six in neighbouring Rutland.

The top 10 earners in Lincolnshire received more than £1.9million combined, with seven of those being senior county council employees who earned a combined £1.3million.

They include the chief executive (£246,366), the deputy chief executive and executive director of resources (£212,730), the executive director of children’s services (£196,481), a director of children’s services on secondment (£186,150), the chief fire officer (£181,634), the executive director of adult care and community wellbeing (£181,581), and the executive director for place (£181,581).

At district level North Kesteven had eight employees earn over the £100,000 mark, West Lindsey had five listed, South Kesteven, Lincoln and East Lindsey had four while South Holland had three. Boston’s were included in the South Holland and East Lindsey shared tallies.

Rutland had six employees listed.

One employee at North Kesteven District Council—the former economy and place director—was given £93,644 for compensation for loss of office and earned a total of £158,290 up to October 31, 2023. According to the council’s website, this role is now split into two.

The top-earning employees per council across Lincolnshire and Rutland include:

- Deborah Barnes, chief executive at Lincolnshire County Council, who earned £246,366.

- The chief executive of South Kesteven District Council, who earned £196,000.

- Rutland chief executive Mark Andrews, who earned £178,296.

- South East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership (East Lindsey, Boston and South Holland) chief executive officer Rob Barlow, who earned £177,563.

- North Kesteven District Council’s chief executive, Ian Fytche, who earned £170,180. Ian retired and was replaced in October 2024 by Kath Marriott.

- West Lindsey chief executive Ian Knowles, who earned £169,095. Ian is due to retire from West Lindsey District Council in June this year.

- City of Lincoln Council chief executive Angela Andrews, who earned £167,059.

The findings come as households across the county face council tax rises, with campaigners calling for greater scrutiny of public spending.

Most councils in England are planning to raise council tax bills by 4.99%. In South Kesteven for instance, residents face a 4.99% rise for Lincolnshire County Council, a 4.95% rise for Lincolnshire Police and a 2.8% rise for South Kesteven District Council on top of town council bills.

The highest-paid council official in the East Midlands was Leicestershire County Council's chief executive, John Sinnott, who received £282,000.

The report highlights an overall increase in high-earning council employees nationwide, with 3,906 receiving over £100,000 and 1,092 earning above £150,000.

TaxPayers' Alliance chief executive John O’Connell said: “It’s a record-breaking year in many respects for taxpayers as the country hurtles towards a record tax burden, all while the public sector continues to feather its nest.

“As our latest Town Hall Rich List demonstrates, the number of council staff with six-figure remuneration packages has surged at the same time that services are being slashed and council tax is being hiked above inflation.

“Local residents can look up their own authority in our list and judge the quality of services and their council tax bill against the pay packets of their council bosses.”

The group is calling for councils to improve efficiency and limit future tax increases.