Bradford Council top earners revealed: Eight staff paid more than £100,000

The Taxpayer’s Alliance has today unveiled its annual “Town Hall Rich List” – a list of the highest paid public servants in Councils across the country.

The data shows that eight Bradford Council staff earn more than £100,000, with the Council’s Chief Executive Lorraine O’Donnell being the highest earner.

But the Council says the pay rates are in line with what other Councils pay people in the same roles.

The data shows that Bradford Council’s CEO Lorraine O’Donnell earned £250,218 last year. When her pension contribution is taken into account, the figure rises to £291,504 – which the Taxpayer’s Alliance says is the highest pay package of any Council employee in Yorkshire and the Humber.

Interim Director of Finance Steven Mair earned £251,350 in the same period. This is higher than Ms O’Donnall’s salary, but does not include a pension contribution.

Joanne Hyde, strategic director for Corporate Resources, was paid £166,945 (£194,491 after pensions are included) while Iain MacBeath, strategic director for Adult Social Care, was paid £162,301 (£189,081 with pension).

Marium Haque, former strategic director for Children’s Services earned £159,345 (£185,637 after pensions) with David Shepherd, Strategic Director for Place, earning £157,862 (£183,909 after pensions).

The names of two other top earners are “undisclosed” – one, the interim director of legal and governance, earned £114,971 (£113,941 after pension contributions, while the unnamed assistant director to the Chief Executive earned £108,925 (£126,898 after pension contributions).

Leandros Kalisperas, Chief Investment Officer of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund – administered by Bradford Council but paid for by all West Yorkshire Local Authorities, received £167,104 (£193,071 after pensions).

And the pension fund’s Managing Director Euan Miller earned £157,862 (£183,909 after pension contributions).

Neighbouring Leeds Council has 29 staff paid more than £100,000.

The release from the Taxpayers’ Alliance said: “The 2026 edition of this report marks the 20th edition of this research.

“In that time the number of local authority employees featured on this list has risen eightfold from 578 in 2005-06 to 4,733 in 2024-25.

“This has corresponded with an expansion in the scope of local government and the number of responsibilities they are required to deliver over the last two decades.

“The highest remunerated individual in 2024-25 was an individual from Staffordshire Council who received £457,500. The name and job title of this individual were not provided.

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “The salaries the Council pays to its senior staff are in line with the rate equivalent roles are paid in other councils.

“The Council is part of national collective pay bargaining which is undertaken by the Local Government Employers Association nationally with the recognised trade unions.”