The Jewish Leadership Council has employed twice as many staff as the Board of Deputies, according to the council’s newly released accounts.
While the JLC’s overall spending dropped by 2.7 per cent from £2,894,118 in 2015 to £2,815,710 last year, its staff costs rose by more than 25 per cent from £1,008,898 to £1,265,575 in 2016.
As well as being responsible for the educational work of Partnerships for Jewish Schools, the JLC has set up a new external affairs team including a number of regional officers.
Its staff increased from 21 to 28 last year – twice as many the Board of Deputies’ 14 in 2015.
Three JLC staff earned more than £110,000 last year, with the highest in the £170,000-£179,999 bracket.
But the council said the departure of external affairs director Bernard Hughes this year would save money, following the completion of his work to set up an external affairs department “ahead of schedule”.
The JLC has significantly increased its investment in education with support for Pajes up from £790,591 to £955,878 last year.
But it reduced a grant to Bicom for “cultural education” from £491,313 in 2015 to £282,868, explaining that the Israel think tank had not requested the same level of support.
Spending on travel, public relations and conferences doubled from £116,911 in 2015 to £219,139 last year – due mainly to events around the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street and preparations for the centenary of the Balfour Declaration.
Donations have increased “significantly” with more than £1.7 million contributed by 20 individuals or organisations.
Ex-chairman Sir Mick Davis, who stepped down in May, made sure sufficient funds were in place until 2018 to spare his successor the pressure of fundraising, the JLC said.
