Former head will not be asked to repay £30,000
top-up on salary

SOUTH Yorkshire’s police and crime commissioner said he will not be seeking any repayment of any element of bonuses paid to a former chief constable which totalled £45,000 in a single year.
By The Newsroom
Published 7th Sep 2013, 01:01 BST

Med Hughes received the money in 2009/10, £30,000 of which was drawn from a local package aimed at rewarding the chief constable above and beyond the £15,000 extra he also received as part of a nationally-approved bonus scheme.

As as result, Mr Hughes was paid £194,000 during a year in which his basic salary was set at £149,000.

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A spokeswoman for South Yorkshire PCC Shaun Wright did not say what legal authority the local bonus scheme was based on when asked but in a statement did say legal advice was sought at the time.

She said an “enhanced remuneration package” was agreed by the former South Yorkshire Police Authority in April 2007 to reflect Med Hughes’ expanded role, improvements taking place at the force and to keep pace with pay increases for other senior public servants.

The rationale referred to the chief constable’s “increased commitment on national strategy for Highways and other Operational Policing policies, both of which have indirect benefits for South Yorkshire in terms of the effectiveness of the services delivered”.

The increased pay was also to “reflect remuneration package developments in other Police Authorities, the other emergency services, and other public sector Chief Executive roles within South Yorkshire and the region.”

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The £30,000 paid under the local package was split into two payments of £15,000 – one for 2009/10 and one for the previous year. It is unclear why they were paid at the same time.

Mr Hughes subsequently waived his entitlement to any further payments before retiring in October 2011.

The spokeswoman said: “Commissioner Wright was not a member of the Police Authority until June 1, 2010.

“The Authority was advised by leading counsel that the payments could be made. Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary (HMIC) and the District Auditor confirmed the proposal was acceptable to them.”

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The statement did not refer to seeking or obtaining approval from the Home Secretary for the payments.

She concluded: “The Commissioner is not seeking repayment of this money to the former chief constable.”