An independent body has recommended a bumper pay packet for Joe of £79,500, which would have made him the second highest-paid elected mayor in the land.
This makes it the second most powerful post behind that of the Mayor of London and sets it apart from other directly elected mayors in England
Only London's Boris Johnson earns more than the amount recommended for Mayor Joe. Now he'll earn something similar to what is earned by the city's MPs.
When Anderson became Leader in 2010, after Labour swept to control at the Town Hall, he packed in his job as a social worker with Sefton Council to concentrate on his political career. Liverpool agreed to stump up around £50,000 for that role – more than twice the amount historically paid to leaders of the city council.
It seems Anderson has arrived at the £66,000 by taking what he would have earned in his job at Sefton, around £45,000 plus the £21,000 he would have received in allowances for being a city councillor and opposition leader.
The independent panel recommending the pay scale for Mayor Joe insisted the £79,500 pay level was justified as Liverpool's mayor will have extra duties compared to other places with elected mayors.
The panel, made up of six people not associated with the city council, carried out a detailed look at the roles and responsibilities of the newly formed post.
They considered things like the role of the elected mayor, the £130m City Deal negotiated with the Government, as well as what other elected mayors in England earn as well as allowances or salaries of leaders and chief executives in major cities and neighbouring authorities.
David James, who chaired the independent panel, said: “We have taken a long and detailed look at the role of elected mayor.
"It is clear there are substantial and significant differences between the role of the leader of the council and this new, enhanced position.
“It brings with it considerable more responsibility because the new mayor has been elected by the whole of the city. This gives him a mandate to speak for the entire city, not just at home but also abroad. This brings with it a duty to deliver strong, visible leadership and be an ambassador for Liverpool.
“We have also noted that the Mayor of Liverpool has new powers and responsibilities negotiated as part of the City Deal. This makes it the second most powerful post behind that of the Mayor of London and sets it apart from other directly elected mayors in England.
“It is now up to the full council to decide whether it wishes to accept our recommendation.”
What other elected mayors earn
Boris Johnson: Top earnerWatford (83,800) £65,738
The panel is made up of:
· Chair: David James (Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development)
