Senior staff salaries
Under the Local Government Transparency Code 2015, we publish details of senior council posts where the basic salary is between £50,000 and £150,000.
This page sets out senior employee remuneration, service responsibilities, direct staffing counts, and net budget responsibilities for 2025/26.
Senior employee remuneration and responsibilities
| Department | Position | Remuneration band | Number of staff | Net budget | Other services and responsibilities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Executive | Chief Executive | £145,000 to £149,999 | 560 | £27,945,100 | Head of Paid Service |
| Regeneration & Place | Director of Regeneration & Place | £125,000 to £129,999 | 218 | £7,581,350 | Executive leadership across regeneration, planning, and housing |
| Finance and Resources | Director of Finance and Resources | £120,000 to £124,999 | 78 | £10,231,320 | Section 151 Officer |
| Strategy, Insight and Governance | Director of Strategy, Insight & Governance | £120,000 to £124,999 | 108 | £6,468,640 | Returning Officer responsible for all elections, Senior Information Risk Owner |
| Building Control | Building Control Manager | £75,000 to £79,999 | 7 | £124,190 | Management of statutory building regulations and safety |
| Building Control | Principal Building Surveyor (Post 1) | £55,000 to £59,999 | 0 | N/A | Statutory building survey inspections and approvals |
| Building Control | Principal Building Surveyor (Post 2) | £55,000 to £59,999 | 0 | N/A | Statutory building survey inspections and approvals |
| Communications, Marketing & Events | Communications, Marketing & Events Manager | £50,000 to £54,999 | 8 | £503,510 | Corporate communications, media relations, and civic events |
| Democratic & Electoral Services | Democratic & Electoral Services Manager | £65,000 to £69,999 | 39 | £1,871,600 | Governance support, committee servicing, and electoral registration |
| Emergency Planning and Resilience | Enterprise Risk & Resilience Manager | £65,000 to £69,999 | 3 | £197,760 | Emergency planning, business continuity, and risk management |
| Environmental Services & Public Realm | Head of Environmental Services & Public Realm | £95,000 to £99,999 | 83 | £6,307,950 | Strategic management of waste, street cleansing, and open spaces |
| Environmental Services & Public Realm | Green Spaces Manager | £50,000 to £54,999 | 34 | £1,621,380 | Operational management of parks, play areas, and green spaces |
| Environmental Services & Public Realm | Public Realm Operations Manager | £55,000 to £59,999 | 37 | £2,851,140 | Waste collection, recycling, and street cleansing operations |
| Environmental Services & Public Realm | Transport & Compliance Manager | £55,000 to £59,999 | 2 | £269,040 | Fleet maintenance, vehicle compliance, and transport licensing |
| Finance | Head of Finance | £90,000 to £94,999 | 30 | £7,305,530 | Financial strategy, treasury management, and accountancy services |
| Finance | Finance Manager | £55,000 to £59,999 | 2 | N/A | Operational financial management and service accounting support |
| Finance | Finance Systems Manager | £55,000 to £59,999 | 4 | N/A | Administration and maintenance of corporate financial software |
| Finance | Financial Business Analyst | £55,000 to £59,999 | 0 | N/A | Financial planning, modeling, and business case appraisals |
| Finance | Parking Services Manager | £60,000 to £64,999 | 12 | Net income: £2,002,310 | Shared service management with Swale Borough Council |
| Finance | Senior Finance Manager (Technical) | £55,000 to £59,999 | 1 | N/A | Technical accounting, statutory returns, and financial statements |
| Finance | Senior Finance Manager (Management Accountancy) | £50,000 to £54,999 | 5 | N/A | Budget monitoring, management accounting, and forecasting |
| Housing and Regulatory Services | Head of Housing & Regulatory Services | £90,000 to £94,999 | 70 | £1,040,890 | Housing options, Homelessness, Temporary Accommodation, Private Sector and licensing services |
| Housing and Regulatory Services | Homeless Pathway Manager | £50,000 to £54,999 | 11 | N/A | Rough sleeping initiatives and single homelessness pathways |
| Housing and Regulatory Services | Housing Advice Manager | £50,000 to £54,999 | 18 | N/A | Statutory homelessness assessment and housing options advice |
| Housing and Regulatory Services | Housing and Inclusion Manager | £65,000 to £69,999 | 33 | £1,693,630 | Social inclusion, community safety, and housing strategy |
| Housing and Regulatory Services | Housing Portfolio Manager | £65,000 to £69,999 | 10 | Net income: £1,390,440 | Temporary accommodation supply and council housing portfolio |
| Housing and Regulatory Services | Housing Solutions Manager | £55,000 to £59,999 | 10 | £300,090 | Early homelessness prevention and private rented sector access |
| Housing and Regulatory Services | Housing Standards Manager | £50,000 to £54,999 | 10 | £291,620 | Private sector housing regulation, HMO licensing, and enforcement |
| Mid Kent Audit | Head of Mid Kent Audit | £90,000 to £94,999 | 4 | £240,550 | Head of shared service with Ashford, Swale, and Tunbridge Wells Borough Councils |
| Mid Kent Audit | Audit Manager (Post 1) | £60,000 to £64,999 | 2 | N/A | Manager within shared service with Ashford, Swale, and Tunbridge Wells Borough Councils |
| Mid Kent Audit | Audit Manager (Post 2) | £65,000 to £69,999 | 0 | N/A | Manager within shared service with Ashford, Swale, and Tunbridge Wells Borough Councils |
| Mid Kent HR | Head of Mid Kent HR | £90,000 to £94,999 | 17 | £688,790 | Head of shared service with Swale Borough Council |
| Mid Kent HR | Mid Kent HR Manager | £55,000 to £59,999 | 6 | N/A | Manager within shared service with Swale Borough Council |
| Mid Kent HR | Mid Kent Learning & Development Manager | £55,000 to £59,999 | 5 | £105,290 | Manager within shared service with Swale Borough Council |
| Mid Kent HR | Mid Kent Payroll Manager | £55,000 to £59,999 | 3 | N/A | Manager within shared service with Swale Borough Council and payroll service to Dartford Borough Council |
| Mid Kent ICT | Head of ICT | £85,000 to £89,999 | 32 | £1,564,950 | Head of shared service with Swale and Tunbridge Wells Borough Councils |
| Mid Kent ICT | Chief Technical Officer | £65,000 to £69,999 | 6 | N/A | Manager within shared service with Swale and Tunbridge Wells Borough Councils |
| Mid Kent ICT | ICT Business Relationship Manager | £50,000 to £54,999 | 1 | N/A | Manager within shared service with Swale and Tunbridge Wells Borough Councils |
| Mid Kent ICT | ICT Security Manager | £55,000 to £59,999 | 1 | N/A | Manager within shared service with Swale and Tunbridge Wells Borough Councils |
| Mid Kent ICT | ICT Technical Manager (Infrastructure) | £55,000 to £59,999 | 6 | N/A | Manager within shared service with Swale and Tunbridge Wells Borough Councils |
| Mid Kent ICT | ICT Technical Manager (Operations) | £55,000 to £59,999 | 9 | N/A | Manager within shared service with Swale and Tunbridge Wells Borough Councils |
| Mid Kent Revenues & Benefits | Head of Mid Kent Revenues & Benefits | £90,000 to £94,999 | 96 | £311,730 | Manager within shared service with Swale and Tunbridge Wells Borough Councils |
| Mid Kent Revenues & Benefits | Benefits Manager | £55,000 to £59,999 | 29 | £144,750 | Manager within shared service with Swale and Tunbridge Wells Borough Councils |
| Mid Kent Revenues & Benefits | Business Support Manager | £50,000 to £54,999 | 13 | N/A | Manager within shared service with Swale and Tunbridge Wells Borough Councils |
| Mid Kent Revenues & Benefits | Revenues Manager – Billing & Collection | £55,000 to £59,999 | 21 | £163,660 | Manager within shared service with Swale and Tunbridge Wells Borough Councils |
| Mid Kent Revenues & Benefits | Revenues Manager – Recovery | £50,000 to £54,999 | 12 | N/A | Manager within shared service with Swale and Tunbridge Wells Borough Councils |
| New Business & Development | Head of New Business & Development | £90,000 to £94,999 | 5 | £189,980 | Council house building programs and commercial property development |
| New Business & Development | Development Project Manager (Post 1) | £60,000 to £64,999 | 2 | N/A | Project management for major council construction and delivery projects |
| New Business & Development | Development Project Manager (Post 2) | £60,000 to £64,999 | 0 | N/A | Project management for major council construction and delivery projects |
| New Business & Development | Garden Community Project Manager | £60,000 to £64,999 | 0 | N/A | Project delivery for garden village masterplanning and infrastructure |
| Planning & Economic Development | Head of Planning & Economic Development | £90,000 to £94,999 | 48 | £2,060,570 | Statutory planning authority functions and local economic strategy |
| Planning & Economic Development | Development Management Team Leader | £60,000 to £64,999 | 16 | N/A | Managing planning officer teams assessing development proposals |
| Planning & Economic Development | Economic Development Manager | £65,000 to £69,999 | 4 | £199,440 | Business support, inward investment, and town centre growth strategy |
| Planning & Economic Development | Innovation Centre Manager | £55,000 to £59,999 | 2 | N/A | Operational management of the business innovation centre facility |
| Planning & Economic Development | Landscape Team Leader | £60,000 to £64,999 | 5 | £414,270 | Arboricultural advice, tree preservation orders, and landscape planning |
| Planning & Economic Development | Major Planning Applications Manager | £65,000 to £69,999 | 8 | £302,130 | Oversight of large-scale residential and commercial planning schemes |
| Planning & Economic Development | Planning Applications Manager | £65,000 to £69,999 | 18 | £20,710 | Operational oversight of standard planning application assessments |
| Planning & Economic Development | Planning Enforcement Team Leader | £55,000 to £59,999 | 5 | £91,590 | Investigation and enforcement of planning condition breaches |
| Planning & Economic Development | Principal Planning Officer (Post 1) | £60,000 to £64,999 | 0 | N/A | Assessment of complex planning applications and appeal advocacy |
| Planning & Economic Development | Principal Planning Officer (Post 2) | £65,000 to £69,999 | 0 | N/A | Assessment of complex planning applications and appeal advocacy |
| Planning & Economic Development | Principal Planning Officer (Post 3) | £55,000 to £59,999 | 0 | N/A | Assessment of complex planning applications and appeal advocacy |
| Planning & Economic Development | Principal Planning Officer (Post 4) | £55,000 to £59,999 | 0 | N/A | Assessment of complex planning applications and appeal advocacy |
| Planning & Economic Development | Principal Planning Officer (Post 5) | £55,000 to £59,999 | 0 | N/A | Assessment of complex planning applications and appeal advocacy |
| Planning & Economic Development | Strategic Planning Manager | £70,000 to £74,999 | 8 | £931,400 | Local Plan development, planning policy, and spatial strategy |
| Policy, Transformation & Insight | Head of Policy, Transformation & Insight | £85,000 to £89,999 | 43 | £2,075,290 | Policy, Business transformation, digital services, customer services, engagement, Data Analytics, Information Governance. Data Protection Officer |
| Policy, Transformation & Insight | Transformation & Digital Services Manager | £65,000 to £69,999 | 30 | £405,800 | Digital service redesign, web development, and process transformation |
| Policy, Transformation & Insight | Transformation Team Leader | £55,000 to £59,999 | 2 | N/A | Project support for corporate change initiatives and service reviews |
| Property & Leisure | Head of Property & Leisure | £90,000 to £94,999 | 31 | Net income: £185,390 | Asset management, council property estate, and leisure facilities |
| Property & Leisure | Leisure & Property Services Manager | £50,000 to £54,999 | 22 | £6,960 | Operational management of leisure contracts and council community assets |
| Property & Leisure | Portfolio Manager | £65,000 to £69,999 | 1 | Net income: £878,060 | Commercial property estate management and lease renewals |
| Safer, Stronger Communities | Safer, Stronger Communities Manager | £60,000 to £64,999 | 11 | £904,510 | Community safety partnership, anti-social behaviour, CCTV, Health and Inclusion, Environmental Health |
| Safer, Stronger Communities | Health, Inclusion & Partnerships Manager | £50,000 to £54,999 | 3 | £356,600 | Public health alignment, community grant schemes, and partnerships |
| Town Centre Services | Museums & Heritage Manager | £50,000 to £54,999 | 10 | £413,870 | Museum operations, heritage collections, and cultural programming |
Remuneration bands summary 2025/26
Under the Local Government Transparency Code, we publish details of senior council staff earning £50,000 or more per year.
| Salary band | Number of employees in band |
|---|---|
| £50,000 to £54,999 | 15 |
| £55,000 to £59,999 | 23 |
| £60,000 to £64,999 | 10 |
| £65,000 to £69,999 | 11 |
| £70,000 to £74,999 | 1 |
| £75,000 to £79,999 | 1 |
| £80,000 to £84,999 | 0 |
| £85,000 to £89,999 | 2 |
| £90,000 to £94,999 | 8 |
| £95,000 to £99,999 | 1 |
| £100,000 to £104,999 | 0 |
| £105,000 to £109,999 | 0 |
| £110,000 to £114,999 | 0 |
| £115,000 to £119,999 | 0 |
| £120,000 to £124,999 | 2 |
| £125,000 to £129,999 | 1 |
| £130,000 to £134,999 | 0 |
| £135,000 to £139,999 | 0 |
| £140,000 to £144,999 | 0 |
| £145,000 to £149,999 | 1 |
| Total senior staff | 76 |
Chief executives and directors
Chief Executive
- Department: Chief Executive
- Contact: 01622 602 019
- Contract type: Permanent
- Grade: MBC 18
- Salary bracket: £145,000 – £149,999
- Salary ceiling: £149,994
Director of Regeneration and Place
- Department: Regeneration and Place
- Contact: 01622 602 364
- Contract type: Permanent
- Grade: MBC 17
- Salary bracket: £125,000 – £129,999
- Salary ceiling: £133,120
Director of Finance and Resources
- Department: Finance and Resources
- Contact: 01622 602 297
- Contract type: Permanent
- Grade: MBC 16
- Salary bracket: £120,000 – £124,999
- Salary ceiling: £120,600
Director of Strategy, Insight & Governance
- Department: Strategy, Insight & Governance
- Contact: 01622 602 620
- Contract type: Permanent
- Grade: MBC 16
- Salary bracket: £120,000 – £124,999
- Salary ceiling: £120,600
Mid Kent Services Director
- Department: Mid Kent Services
- Contact: Vacant
- Contract type: Vacant
- Grade: MBC 16
- Salary bracket: Vacant
- Salary ceiling: £120,600
Heads of Service
Head of Finance
- Department: Finance
- Contact: 01622 602 048
- Contract type: Permanent
- Grade: MBC 14
- Salary bracket: £90,000 – £94,999
- Salary ceiling: £91,979
Head of Property & Leisure
- Department: Property & Leisure
- Contact: 01622 602 120
- Contract type: Permanent
- Grade: MBC 14
- Salary bracket: £90,000 – £94,999
- Salary ceiling: £91,979
Head of Environmental Services & Public Realm
- Department: Environmental Services & Public Realm
- Contact: 01622 602 400
- Contract type: Permanent
- Grade: MBC 14
- Salary bracket: £90,000 – £94,999
- Salary ceiling: £91,979
Head of Housing & Regulatory Services
- Department: Housing & Regulatory Services
- Contact: 01622 602 207
- Contract type: Permanent
- Grade: MBC 14
- Salary bracket: £90,000 – £94,999
- Salary ceiling: £91,979
Head of New Business and Development
- Department: New Business and Development
- Contact: 01622 602 170
- Contract type: Permanent
- Grade: MBC 14
- Salary bracket: £90,000 – £94,999
- Salary ceiling: £91,979
Head of Planning and Economic Development
- Department: Planning & Development
- Contact: 01622 602 008
- Contract type: Permanent
- Grade: MBC 14
- Salary bracket: £90,000 – £94,999
- Salary ceiling: £91,979
Head of Insight, Communities & Governance
- Department: Insight, Communities & Governance
- Contact: 01622 602 253
- Contract type: Permanent
- Grade: MBC 14
- Salary bracket: £85,000 – £89,999
- Salary ceiling: £91,979
Shared Service Lead Roles
Head of Mid Kent Audit
- Department: Mid Kent Audit
- Contact: 01622 602 057
- Contract type: Permanent
- Grade: MBC 14
- Salary bracket: £90,000 – £94,999
- Salary ceiling: £91,979
Head of Mid Kent HR
- Department: Mid Kent HR
- Contact: 01622 602 165
- Contract type: Permanent
- Grade: MBC 14
- Salary bracket: £90,000 – £94,999
- Salary ceiling: £91,979
Head of Mid Kent Revenues & Benefits
- Department: Mid Kent Revenues & Benefits
- Contact: 01795 417 306
- Contract type: Permanent
- Grade: MBC 14
- Salary bracket: £90,000 – £94,999
- Salary ceiling: £91,979
Head of Mid Kent ICT
- Department: Mid Kent ICT
- Contact: 01622 602 913
- Contract type: Permanent
- Grade: MBC 14
- Salary bracket: £85,000 – £89,999
- Salary ceiling: £91,979
Head of Mid Kent Legal Partnership
- Department: Mid Kent Legal Partnership
- Contact: 01622 602 124
- Contract type: Shared contract with Swale Borough Council
Pay multiple information
The recommendation in the ‘Hutton Review of Fair Pay’ 2011 has been followed:
‘The pay multiple should be calculated on the basis of all taxable earnings for the given year, including base salary, variable pay, bonuses, allowances and the cash value of any benefits in kind.'
The calculation for earnings changed in 2016 from previous years following the guidance from the Local Government Association (LGA). In previous years, the calculation included earnings subject to National Insurance contributions, but this has been amended to include just the taxable earnings; the main difference between them is the pension contribution made by the employee.
Taxable Pay
| Year | Chief Executive earnings | Median | Pay Multiple |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 125,246 | 26,496 | 4.73 |
| 2024/25 | 130,963 | 27,081 | 4.84 |
| 2025/26 | 133,074 | 28,553 | 4.66 |
| % change from the previous year | 1.61% | 5.43% | -3.72% |
The main difference in the Chief Executive's earnings relates to the pay award increase in 2025/26. The median earnings of all employees have increased compared with the previous year’s calculation, which reflects the pay award increase for 2025/26.
Our pay policy is to pay at the market median, which is only reached at the top of the incremental pay points for each grade. This ensures people are paid at a lower level than our policy until they have fully matured into the role, and although these are contractual payments, we withhold them if performance is not at the expected level.