Paul Diviani has helped at least one “hard working person” to beat the trend – Chris Garcia, CEO of our Local Enterprise Partnership who got a whacking 26% increase in his salary last year as reportd here:

https://eastdevonwatch.org/2017/01/17/17562/

and here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-38648435

and here:

http://www.yeovilexpress.co.uk/news/15035937.Somerset_County_Council_leader_hits_out_at_proposed_pay_rise_for_quango_chief/

Nice work if you can get it (unless of course you happen to have a university vice-chancellorship in your back pocket!).