LGOIMA Request Details

We consider that releasing job titles within salary bands, when matched up with information that is already in the public space about individuals who hold certain job titles, would risk interfering with individuals’ right to privacy regarding their salary band. We consider there is a medium to high privacy interest in an employee’s salary band, which does not, in our opinion, outweigh the public interest in knowing the salary range for each employee.

We also believe that the public interest was considered by Parliament when drafting clause 32A in Schedule 10 of the Local Government Act, and Parliament considered that job titles do not need to be released in the annual report. Had Parliament thought that there is a public interest in the public knowing what individuals earn (in terms of a salary band) then Parliament would likely have mandated reporting on that as well. We consider that there is low public interest in knowing the salary bands of individuals, whereas there is high public interest in knowing what councils spend overall on salaries.

The following information is from our 2021/22 Annual Report, which is as yet unaudited and unpublished, but we believe is correct and the most up-to-date information we can provide to you.