Forum Topic

Councillors reimburement

Seems the majority party have voted themselves massive increases. One Cabinet member receiving an increase of 172% backdated to April.Who needs Mick Lynch when you can become a labour councillor.

Andy Pike ● 583d6 Comments

Apologies Robert and Andy but I am at a loss.The 172% increase has been advertised by Wandsworth Conservatives for quite a long time.Now, it has been confirmed by the minutes of the Council meeting.I am not impressed by the move, I must admit.But:"The Chief Executive of WPCC is a permanent employee who implements the decisions of the Trustees. Similarly Wandsworth employs a Chief Executive to implement the Councillors policies."  What is the difference?"The point here is that Labour has taken control of the Council and voted themselves substantial pay rises.  So much for it all being about public service." ???????"Cynical move to try and legitimise the increase by including 3 opposition posts. I wonder if those 3 Councillors are taking the increase? I do hope not. 32 or 33 of 35 Majority party Councillors benefit from this increase.Councillors payments had been frozen for 12 years , until now, at WBC as part of a cross party agreement."As I said, I do not agree with the 172% increase of salaries.From my perspective, the Conservatives lost the vote because of the amazingly iffy (if not smelly) Planning Committee. Sadly, for many of us, the fact that the Party in charge has changed, that does not mean that the Council employees have.....

Ivonne Holliday ● 581d

Cynical move to try and legitimise the increase by including 3 opposition posts. I wonder if those 3 Councillors are taking the increase? I do hope not. 32 or 33 of 35 Majority party Councillors benefit from this increase.Councillors payments had been frozen for 12 years , until now, at WBC as part of a cross party agreement.

Andy Pike ● 581d

Comparison of Councillors with Chief Executives is inappropriate and missing the point.  The Chief Executive of WPCC is a permanent employee who implements the decisions of the Trustees.  Similarly Wandsworth employs a Chief Executive to implement the Councillors policies.The point here is that Labour has taken control of the Council and voted themselves substantial pay rises.  So much for it all being about public service.

Robert Wheeler ● 581d

Looking at the official notice on allowances, and not just the Conservative party’s press briefing is informative. See https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/the-council/councillors/councillor-allowances/ The amounts set are all lower than the recommendations from the London Council’s Advisory panel, and seem to me to be quite reasonable. I”m sure that the CEO’s of many charities and private and public companies are paid a great deal more than our Councillors. Take the CE of WPCC as an example. He earns between £80,000 and £90,000 plus use of a house. The WBC expenditure is around £2.3m. The expenditure of the Council is ten times that amount, near £200m. It is also notable that the Opposition Leader, Deputy Leader and Chief Whip are all included in the “Special Responsibilities Allowance” list.
Nick

Nicholas Evans ● 582d

As there is plenty of money for pay rises presumably they will be freezing Council Tax.  What a shambles Labour are.

Robert Wheeler ● 583d

Here’s the link…https://order-order.com/2023/10/19/wandsworth-labour-awards-councillor-172-pay-rise/From £11k to £30k for their chief whip.  Won’t break the bank but hardly a ringing endorsement of their intentions.Still following the left wing tradition - four legs good two legs better…….

Mike Warman ● 583d