Animal welfare boss defends his record after negative newspaper reports
Scotland’s best paid charity boss has mounted a staunch defence after his salary was published in a series of newspaper reports.
Scottish SPCA chief executive Stuart Earley also came under fire after it was revealed his wife had received £12,000 over a three year period from the charity for stabling rescued horses at her livery yard.
Newspapers claimed the animal welfare chief earned £216,000 last year after being awarded a bonus of around £31,000 on top of his £185,000 basic salary.
However the charity has hit back, saying that Earley has presided over the most successful period in its history with 83p of every £1 donated now spent directly on its mission of supporting vulnerable animals.
The bonus last year was in recognition of such achievements, particularly the achievement of some challenging targets which the charity set for itself in 2009.
Harry Haworth, chairman of Scottish SPCA, added that Earley had plugged the pension black hole that existed when he first arrived and had increased fundraising by as much as an extra £3 million a year.
The critical test for all charities is to make sure that as much money as possible is spent on the charitable mission - Harry Haworth
“As chairman, I'm proud of these figures because 83p in every £1 is a lot higher than many other charities," he said.
“The critical test for all charities is to make sure that as much money as possible is spent on the charitable mission and I’m sure the public want to know that their money is being put to the frontline cause.
“Through the successful fund raising efforts, the society has invested in the future by undertaking a £15m capital expenditure programme that has almost doubled our kennel capacity and provided animals in our care with much better facilities.
“Our crowning achievement has been to increase the number of children we reach from 27,000 in 2007 to over 317,000 in 2014. This is the largest educational outreach programme in Scotland and encourages children to respect and be kind to animals.”
A spokesperson also defended reports that Earley's wife had been paid for the charity to rehome vulnerable horses.
The spokesman said: “An SSPCA chief inspector advised Stuart that two horses were in desperate condition and needed accommodation. Rather than risk the animals being put down, Paddock View Livery, run by Mrs Earley, was approached to house the horses.
“The Scottish SPCA board was consulted and agreed. A rate equal to 44% discount from normal rates, was agreed.
Between April 2009 and August 2011 – the last time Paddock View was required to house horses – a total of seven horses were placed with the livery, which received payments of £5100 in 2009, £4502 in 2010 and £3000 in 2011.
“All payments were agreed with the board’s explicit knowledge and consent.”
Pay has come under the spotlight in the last year after it was revealed a number of English-based health charities were paying chief exectuives amounts upwards of £500,000 a year.
However, top Scottish charity chiefs earn, proportionately, considerably less than their English counterparts.
