Concerns have been raised over the "growing disparity" between the highest paid staff at the city council - where the top officer takes home £215,000 a year - and the lowest.

Sunderland City Council’s leader Councillor Michael Mordey stressed it is something they are looking into and taking action on to “protect” those on the lowest wages.

He also hailed the local authority’s executive management team – adding they have “some of the best, if not the best, officers in the country”.

The issue was raised at the latest full council meeting where the local authority’s 2026-27 pay policy statement was approved.

Sunderland Liberal Democrat councillor Martin Haswell has raised concerns about the "growing disparity" between salaries at the city council.

placeholder image — Sunderland Liberal Democrat councillor Martin Haswell has raised concerns about the "growing disparity" between salaries at the city council.

Liberal Democrat councillor Martin Haswell said: “There is a growing disparity between highest and lowest paid at this local authority.

“Salaries are increasing at the higher range while the lowest remain far, far off that.

“The gap between the lowest paid, those who struggle the most to fund their household bills and their food shopping, is growing.”

He noted when he first joined the council in 2018 the highest paid officer was on approximately £179,000 a year, with the lowest on around £16,000, and that since then the gap “has grown dramatically by two and a half times”.

Sunderland City Council salaries have been debated by councillors.

The latest pay policy statement noted the highest paid officer, chief executive Patrick Melia, is paid £215,022 per annum, with the lowest full-time position paying £24,796.

Cllr Haswell did note the ratio between the highest paid and the median earnings figure - £28,142 - has improved.

He added: “We’ve done some excellent work as a council trying to encourage use of the benefits platform, salary maximisation, other items like this, so I just want to put it on record that this remains a concern and I hope we’ll look at it.”

Labour’s Cllr Mordey said it is an issue they are “deeply concerned about” and “keep constantly under review”.

He added: “It is a symptom of 15 years of wage stagnation under the previous government.

“We are proud to be a real living wage employer in the city, protecting the lowest wages.

“On the top end of the spectrum it is that to attract the top talent you have to sometimes pay the top bucks, and in our executive management team we have some of the best, if not the best, officers in the country”.