MORE than £800,000 was paid out to East Ayrshire Council's top eight earners in the last financial year, according to an annual report.

The outlay of £868,623 was up from £821,487 in 2022/23, as the report stated that "this year has continued to be a financially challenging year for the council".

A recently-completed annual accounts report also found that almost £800k was spent on elected members' salaries and expenses, including more than £420k to the authority's 12 senior councillors, the council leader, and the provost.

The local authority's top earner for 2023/24 was chief executive Eddie Fraser, who took home £154,609, which marked a rise from £146,549 in 2022/23, according to the public document.

Eddie Fraser was the council's top earner.Eddie Fraser was the council's top earner. (Image: East Ayrshire Council) Outgoing depute chief executive, Katie Kelly, was paid £63,956 up until she left in September 2023.

Richard Grieveson took over the role for the remainder of the financial period, and cashed in on £71,610.

Director of health and social care, Craig McArthur, was the next highest earner, who received £132,947, up from £126,325 the previous year.

A total of £111,929 was paid to chief governance officer, David Mitchell, head of finance and ICT, Joe McLachlan, and head of education, Linda McAulay-Griffiths, up from £106,104, £105,994 and £105,544, respectively.

Marion MacAulay, head of children's health, care and justice services received a pay packet of £109,397, a rise from £105,206 in the previous year.

Spending insights showed that council leader Douglas Reid received £40,205, up from £39,086.

Council leader, Douglas Reid, earned £40,205.Council leader, Douglas Reid, earned £40,205 (Image: East Ayrshire Council) Jim McMahon, depute leader, was paid £29,890, up from £28,100, while outgoing provost Jim Todd's pay rose from £25,536 to £30,154.

Senior councillors also brought in £29,315 each during 2023/24, up from £24,826 the previous year.

Figures also showed that there were 298 teachers earning above £50,000, with one earning as much as between £105k and £109k.

The council report stated: "This year has continued to be a financially challenging year for the council.

"Continuing high demand for services combined with persistently high inflation and interest rates for much of the year had a significant impact on the cost of essential service provision to our communities.

"While the council overall has, through diligent financial planning, managed to increase our uncommitted general fund reserve in 2023/24, it became evident early in the year that a number of our service budgets were under significant pressure.

"In October 2023 the chief financial officer provided members with an update to the council’s medium term financial strategy 2022 -2027, initially approved in October 2022, and after receiving notification of the local government finance settlement for 2024/25 the council set its revenue budget for the forthcoming year in February 2024.

"It was an incredibly challenging budget, with the council approving proposals to address a £9.7m financial gap, and recognising that, despite work to balance budgets, there remained a £32 million gap anticipated to 2026/27."

The full report can be viewed online.