Scottish Borders Council top earner numbers increase

Image source, Jim Barton

Image caption, Scottish Borders Council paid out more than 拢600,000 to 12 staff it made redundant

The number of top earners at a Scottish local authority rose by nearly 9% last year.

The total of Scottish Borders Council staff paid more than 拢50,000-a-year went up from 125 in 2017-18 to 136 in the following 12 months.

Unaudited accounts also revealed the cost to the council of compulsory redundancies last year.

It paid out more than 拢600,000 to 12 members of staff it made redundant in 2018-19.

The council is required to publish figures every year of the number of employees earning 拢50,000 or more.

The figure stood at 96 in 2013-14 but has risen steadily ever since.

Last year it rose by 11 compared with the previous 12 months, with the biggest increase among its teaching staff.

The report also outlined the total cost and number of exit packages given to staff made redundant in 2018-19 and the year before.

The number of cases has risen from five to 12, while the cost has also increased from just over 拢150,000 to more than 拢610,000.