Voter payback warning over councillors rise in Cornwall
Councillors in Cornwall who raised their pay by 20 per cent could pay the price at the ballot box, a government minister has suggested.
Brandon Lewis branded the £2,472 increase in allowances a "very, very odd decision" given the current economic climate, but said it was a matter for the county.
-
Voter payback warning over councillors rise in Cornwall
His criticism came during an evidence session to the Commons Local Government Select Committee, which is holding an inquiry into councillors and the community.
It came after a majority of members on the authority recently voted to award themselves a rise, at an extra cost to the taxpayer of £304,056 a year. But the increase to the current allowance of £14,600 will not take immediate affect and will not necessarily benefit those who backed it.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Sunday, June 30 2013
It will only come into force after the council elections next May.
Speaking to MPs at Westminster, the Tory Local Government minister said of the 20 per cent rise in Cornwall: "In the current climate, that is a very unusual decision to be looking to take. Councils should be looking quite carefully at that, particularly at a time when every household is squeezed.
"If we are looking at councils to play their part and then they put up allowances, there is a question mark."
When tackled over his criticism, Mr Lewis said: "I am just saying I think it is a very, very odd decision to make in an economic climate like this, and the ballot box generally tends to do a pretty good job of dealing with those situations.
"But if Cornwall feels it is doing the right thing and the people of Cornwall think that is the right thing to do, that is fine for Cornwall."
The amount agreed by councillors was less than originally suggested in a report by the Independent Remuneration Panel, which stated that allowances in Cornwall should be increased to £16,200 a year to attract a more broad range of people.
Comments
by twain1
Sunday, November 11 2012, 10:35PM
“IMO, a few are worth every penny, many aren't, and many are in it for their own ends if you get my drift.
The sad part is when corruption becomes evident more often than not, they merely resign, end of.
It's the system that allows this to happen as long as the line is being toed.”
by Lafrowda
Sunday, November 11 2012, 9:57PM
“Voters are like children, they can only remember wast happened in the current day. We couldn't wait to get rid of a Labour party that interfered in our lives like a Communist Big Brother, but as soon as we lose some of our perks we talk about having them back again. Memory, what memory ?
And yes I know it's democracy.”
by eu_blues
Sunday, November 11 2012, 6:15PM
“"The problem which should be recognised is the system. Whichever party gains control at the next election will also award themselves an increase sooner or later ans we are powerless to do anything about it. This has been going on too long up and down the country and something should be done but what I don't know. Even if not one of the councillors is re-elected the nose to the trough policy will carry on as before." Josedave
Its a very sad truth, but DEMOCRACY has never really existed. You would of thought that voters in the 21st Century might have caught onto the left & right two party tag team, which includes the third party called the Liberal Democrates, but unfortunately, NO. People still vote believing in a very fool hardy system that serves others and not the majority of UK voters. Even UKIP does the usual u-turn when required. All parties are the same, always have been. Democracy is just an illusion. Vote every four years to prevent revolution. Voters fall for oldest trick in the book, and its worked a treat! The UK as a country is totally finished.”
by josdave
Sunday, November 11 2012, 4:29PM
“The problem which should be recognised is the system. Whichever party gains control at the next election will also award themselves an increase sooner or later ans we are powerless to do anything about it. This has been going on too long up and down the country and something should be done but what I don't know. Even if not one of the councillors is re-elected the nose to the trough policy will carry on as before.”
by roger_angove
Sunday, November 11 2012, 7:40AM
“'My' councillor isn't worth half of what he is already paid.”
by Trecurnow
Saturday, November 10 2012, 8:57PM
“I knoof a long term council employee working physically, not at a desk, who has had his wages cut, has to work longer hours, his afternoon break taken away and his morning crib break of 15 minutes now, if taken, has to be added to his working day!
He didn't get a 20% pay rise. He thinks he is lucky he still has a job.”
by Lafrowda
Saturday, November 10 2012, 6:10PM
“More likely its following European example.”
by toffer99
Saturday, November 10 2012, 5:28PM
“Voting themselves a big increase? They must think they're members of Parliament.”