New report details Ayrshire's highest paid local authority executives

According to the Town Hall Rich List 2025, a record 3,906 officials from local authorities around the UK received more than £100,000.

The highest paid executives of Ayrshire’s three local authorities have been revealed in a new report.

According to the Town Hall Rich List 2025, a record 3,906 officials from local authorities around the UK received more than £100,000.

That’s the highest level since the dataset, from The TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA), was first published in 2007.

And in another record stat, 1,092 of them received more than £150,000 in the financial year 2023-24.

South Ayrshire’s highest paid official was Mike Newall, the chief executive, who earned £134,726 during the recording period.

He also benefitted from a pension contribution that year of £26,002.

The second highest paid executive was Tim Eltringham, the Director of health and social care partnership, who earned an annual salary of £133,376.

His pension was also topped up by £25,742 during the reporting period.

Third on the South Ayrshire list of best paid employees was Lyndsay McRoberts, the Depute chief executive and director of education. She earned a salary of £125,456 and was boosted with a pension contribution of £22,998.

Eddie Fraser topped the East Ayrshire list, the chief executive earning £154,609, along with a pension contribution that year of £26,093.

Craig McArthur, East Ayrshire’s Director of health and social care earned £132,947, along with a pension contribution of £22,261.

And David Mitchell,the Chief governance officer, took home £111,929, with a pension contribution of £21,602.

In North Ayrshire, the local authority’s chief executive Craig Hatton, took home £160,745. His pension contribution over the reporting period was £31,024.

Second in the North Ayrshire list was Audrey Sutton, the Executive director, communities and education. She earned £129,077- and collected a pension contribution of £24,912.

And Russell McCutcheon, Executive director, (place) earned £129,077. His pension was also boosted by a sum of £24,429.

John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, 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.”

To find out more go to https://www.taxpayersalliance.com/town_hall_rich_list_2025