Bonus payments to senior council staff in Wokingham are being reviewed as the current scheme “lacks precision”.

Wokingham Borough Council’s senior leadership team are to receive clarification on what targets they need to meet to qualify for a 10 per cent bonus, known as performance-related pay, on top of their salary.

The eight staff at the council eligible for the annual bonus include interim chief executive Andy Couldrick, as well as managers including Mark Moon, from place based services, Stuart Rowbotham, from community care services, and Graham Ebers, from business services.

The latest information for bonuses shows in 2010/11 then-chief executive Susan Law did not take a bonus, while the remaining leadership team pocketed £60,000 between them.

The senior leadership team pay packet, including pension and salaries, was more than £1 million in 2010/11.

The council’s personnel committee will discuss proposed changes to the scheme at a meeting on Monday, April 23.

The key areas being clarified include:

- Council leader Councillor David Lee will agree, assess and document targets with the chief executive.

- The chief executive will agree, review and document targets with senior managers.

- The council’s personnel board will receive information on the targets set and the outcomes of these at the end of the financial year.

- That there are four performance areas under the targets; corporate, financial, individual performance and budget management.

A council report notes the bonus scheme is needed for “focusing attention and effort on key performance issues”, as well as to recruit and retain “high quality” senior managers.

The council is shedding 150 jobs over three years, although many job losses have been achieved through natural wastage.

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