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Originally Posted by Doug
I don’t agree that age limits should be put on public posts…..If local councils are to be representative of the community then we must have representation across the age group of the community. I agree that too many wealthy people get themselves involved for the wrong reasons; all too often councils are treated as private clubs with jobs for the boy’s. But all too often it’s us that put them there.
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There are several arguments here. I cut my hours at work by 10 and lose £4,500 gross per annum [plus opportunities to work o/t at x1.5] So call it £5,000. I get £3,200 allowance so I am out of pocket. I do about 20+ hours a week for the Council. Its not particulalry hard work either, lets face it listening to residents concerns on a sunny day beats a production line... It is worked out that councillors do an average of 16 hours a week at minimum wage and that comes to just over £4,000. Hence doing away with the 25% voluntary rule justifies the move from £3,200 to £4,000 keeping to the minimum wage. Thats the pro argument.
Now the anti-argument. Every £ spent on allowances comes from somewhere else. The Council is massivly in debt and making severe front line cuts. The Council is badly run so this is a reward for poor perfomance. The 16 hours are not a normal 16 hours job, quite contrary, they are by comparison easy. Hyndburn has Britains youngest councillor and letting a secret out, Labour have 3 or 4 more lined up to see if they can get selected/elected so the wealthy retired argument does not stand up either. The minimum wage argument falls by the wayside because half of all councillors get special on top allowances which have all risen by 26%. Only half are getting the full 16 hour minimum wage £4,000. The other half are much further up the pay scale than the minimum wage. The minimum wage also falls because 1) you dont enter the Council for money and a job 2) Some councillors dont do 16 hours, or anywhere near and also get speciall extra allowances. 3) Hyndburn BC can never ever pay a living wage to attract in councillors, it will always be for civic pride
Voting yourself - with no opposition - a pay rise from the pockets of residents grossly disproportionate to their income growth is immoral. Picking July's meeting to bury bad news cuz it is furthest from the next election and a lot of people are on holiday and papers sales down is deceitful. An outside independent body of 5 members recomended 2.95% - with no justification for 26% in their opinion. That report was binned. It will cost £50,000-£60,000 pa and after tax and NI probably some £20-£25,000 will simply go to Gordon Brown. Just about the amount saved in tax when hiving on the management of Town Halls and Civic Theatres in to the private voluntary unaccountable profit motivated sector.
I now need to decide how I wont profit from this increase... Option 1 dont take it and leave it to be spent by the Council on services. Option 2 take it [be taxed and receive half] and give it to the Labour Party election fund until PB is removed??? Option 3 - as 2 but give it to charity.