It’s that time of year again when we reflect on whether our Councillors have earned their keep or not. South Tyneside Council have this morning updated their internet site to include “Members Allowances Paid 2006/2007”. A very quick calculation reveals the following approximations:
BASIC ALLOWANCES PAID: £330,337
SPECIAL ALLOWANCES PAID: £250,918
TRAVEL ALLOWANCES PAID: £8705
SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE: £4422
TOTAL PAID: £594,382
To give them credit, the Independents in the form of Alan and Jane Branley, plus new boy Victor Thompson, have once again refused to claim their allowances. As Councillor leader, Paul Waggott was eligible to over £30,000 and he took every penny.
Allowances are always a difficult subject. To stand for election based on a set of principals is an admirable action, and to represent your ward properly can be an expensive business. Not all councillors can afford to pay for this from their own pockets. Payments then, are entirely justified in the first instance. Where the system comes apart, is when monies are claimed but the work is simply not done. There is more to representation than just turning up for full council meetings; there are ward surgeries and sub/scrutiny committees for example, all of which require Councillor presence in order to function properly and with full accountability.
1 comment:
Allowances for Special Responsibility suggest that the recipients should conduct themselves accountably and fully accept those responsibilities. In other words be prepared to "own" that part of the portfolio for which you are responsible. Like this!
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