THEY cost Hampshire taxpayers
almost £2m a year and
two of them took home more
than £50,000 in allowances
and expenses.
Now the public have the chance to have
their say on how much the county's
councillors should get paid.
An independent remuneration panel is
carrying out the first full review of
Hampshire County Council's allowance
scheme in eight years.
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Peter Humphreys, the former chief
executive of the Universities and
Colleges Employers Association, will
chair it with two others.
It will compare Hampshire, the third
largest shire council in the country, to
similar authorities, as well as the private
sector. The panel will also look at
hours of work, levels of responsibilities,
and whether the age, gender and ethnicity
of councillors compared to the rest of
the population in Hampshire shows
whether pay is a barrier.
Mr Humphreys, who declines to take
his annual £211 allowance for the job,
said: "We are not councillors, we are
independent and we don't have any political
or executive ties with the council."
He said he was keen to receive comments
from the public, adding: "We will
listen to them very seriously."
Councillors are likely to consider the
panel recommendations in November
but can ignore them.
They can currently claim a basic of
£11,565 with extras for special responsibilities,
rising to £27,913 for the leader,
Ken Thornber.
Councillors Mel Kendal and Keith
House, who are county councillors as
well as leaders of New Forest and
Eastleigh councils, claimed more than
£50,000 each in 2006/7.
They all said that they give good value
and work hard for their money.
However Christine Melsom, from
IsItFair?, a council tax reform pressure
group, said: "They certainly shouldn't get
any more. Allowances are already very
high and most of them have got other jobs.
"It's a supplement to their income and
they get pension rights to go with it."
The review comes as the union Unison
is considering balloting on summer
strikes over a 2.45 per cent pay offer. It
wants six per cent. In February councillors
agreed to link this year's increase to
the pay award for staff.
Rolli Rowlands, deputy branch secretary
for Hampshire, said he was disappointed
that there were no women on the
pay panel but said that higher pay might
be needed to attract better and younger
councillors.
He warned: "The pay bill will always
come back on the taxpayer. They need to
find a balance."
● A public hearing on the pay review
will be held on June 26. Taxpayers wishing
to give evidence or comment should
write to: The Chair, The Independent
Remuneration Panel, c/o The Members
Office, The Chief Executive's
Department, Hampshire County
Council, The Castle, Winchester, SO23
8UJ by June 5, or e-mail
irp@hants.gov.uk.
"Councillors are likely to consider the panel recommendations in November but can ignore them"
What a pointless exercise and waste of time if it can be ignored, but I would imagine only if a cut is recommended.
Should a rise be recommended, no doubt an increase will be taken.
Bunch of hypocrites, all of them.
"Councillors are likely to consider the panel recommendations in November but can ignore them"
What a pointless exercise and waste of time if it can be ignored, but I would imagine only if a cut is recommended.
Should a rise be recommended, no doubt an increase will be taken.
[bold]two of them took home more than £50,000 in allowances and expenses.[/bold]
expenses should be for expenses not a huge tax free wage on top of the wage they already get. they should have to prove where every penny has gone just like the rest of us do. if this money finds it's way into there bank accounts that is theft and they should investigated by the police and inland revenue.
two of them took home more than £50,000 in allowances and expenses.
expenses should be for expenses not a huge tax free wage on top of the wage they already get. they should have to prove where every penny has gone just like the rest of us do. if this money finds it's way into there bank accounts that is theft and they should investigated by the police and inland revenue.
Posted by: Hangonaminnit, another time another planet on 10:38am Fri 9 May 08
Surely councillors expenses should be based on performance - ie actually getting things done. We see precious little of that happening. Mel Kendal is in charge of roads - you know, those things that cars seem to sit on, not moving?
Surely councillors expenses should be based on performance - ie actually getting things done. We see precious little of that happening. Mel Kendal is in charge of roads - you know, those things that cars seem to sit on, not moving?
[quote][bold]mr x[/bold] wrote:
[bold]two of them took home more than £50,000 in allowances and
expenses.[/bold] expenses should be for expenses not a huge tax free
wage on top of the wage they already get. they should have to prove
where every penny has gone just like the rest of us do. if this money
finds it's way into there bank accounts that is theft and they should
investigated by the police and inland revenue.[/quote] Erm, to whom are you reporting where you spend every penny of your money?
mr x wrote: two of them took home more than £50,000 in allowances and
expenses. expenses should be for expenses not a huge tax free
wage on top of the wage they already get. they should have to prove
where every penny has gone just like the rest of us do. if this money
finds it's way into there bank accounts that is theft and they should
investigated by the police and inland revenue.
Erm, to whom are you reporting where you spend every penny of your money?
I think the fairest solution would be to make any pay performance related. That way they will get what they deserve. It shouldn't cause any financial burden as they have their primary income sources already.
How the performace is calculated is of course another question but I would like to see it take into account some sort of measure of 'promises kept' to stop the public been promised the world around elections and then not having it delivered
I think the fairest solution would be to make any pay performance related. That way they will get what they deserve. It shouldn't cause any financial burden as they have their primary income sources already.
How the performace is calculated is of course another question but I would like to see it take into account some sort of measure of 'promises kept' to stop the public been promised the world around elections and then not having it delivered
[quote][bold]George[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]mr x[/bold] wrote: [bold]two of them took home more than £50,000 in allowances and expenses.[/bold] expenses should be for expenses not a huge tax free wage on top of the wage they already get. they should have to prove where every penny has gone just like the rest of us do. if this money finds it's way into there bank accounts that is theft and they should investigated by the police and inland revenue.[/quote] Erm, to whom are you reporting where you spend every penny of your money?[/quote] her indoors
George wrote:
mr x wrote: two of them took home more than £50,000 in allowances and expenses. expenses should be for expenses not a huge tax free wage on top of the wage they already get. they should have to prove where every penny has gone just like the rest of us do. if this money finds it's way into there bank accounts that is theft and they should investigated by the police and inland revenue.
Erm, to whom are you reporting where you spend every penny of your money?
[quote][bold]George[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]mr x[/bold] wrote: [bold]two of them took home more than £50,000 in allowances and expenses.[/bold] expenses should be for expenses not a huge tax free wage on top of the wage they already get. they should have to prove where every penny has gone just like the rest of us do. if this money finds it's way into there bank accounts that is theft and they should investigated by the police and inland revenue.[/quote] Erm, to whom are you reporting where you spend every penny of your money?[/quote] It is not their money, but taxpayers, and as such, every penny should be receipted and accounted for and audited.
George wrote:
mr x wrote: two of them took home more than £50,000 in allowances and expenses. expenses should be for expenses not a huge tax free wage on top of the wage they already get. they should have to prove where every penny has gone just like the rest of us do. if this money finds it's way into there bank accounts that is theft and they should investigated by the police and inland revenue.
Erm, to whom are you reporting where you spend every penny of your money?
It is not their money, but taxpayers, and as such, every penny should be receipted and accounted for and audited.
[quote][bold]Christoff[/bold] wrote:
I think the fairest solution would be to make any pay performance
related. That way they will get what they deserve. It shouldn't cause
any financial burden as they have their primary income sources already.
How the performace is calculated is of course another question but I
would like to see it take into account some sort of measure of
'promises kept' to stop the public been promised the world around
elections and then not having it delivered
[/quote] The problem with performance-related reward is, those subjected to it tune their working life toward getting the reward, rather than doing the job-at-hand. Nice idea, but in my experience, performance-related remuneration just leads to shoddy work
Christoff wrote:
I think the fairest solution would be to make any pay performance
related. That way they will get what they deserve. It shouldn't cause
any financial burden as they have their primary income sources already.
How the performace is calculated is of course another question but I
would like to see it take into account some sort of measure of
'promises kept' to stop the public been promised the world around
elections and then not having it delivered
The problem with performance-related reward is, those subjected to it tune their working life toward getting the reward, rather than doing the job-at-hand. Nice idea, but in my experience, performance-related remuneration just leads to shoddy work
[quote][bold]hulla[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]George[/bold] wrote: [quote][bold]mr x[/bold] wrote: [bold]two of them took home more than £50,000 in allowances and expenses.[/bold] expenses should be for expenses not a huge tax free wage on top of the wage they already get. they should have to prove where every penny has gone just like the rest of us do. if this money finds it's way into there bank accounts that is theft and they should investigated by the police and inland revenue.[/quote] Erm, to whom are you reporting where you spend every penny of your money?[/quote] It is not their money, but taxpayers, and as such, every penny should be receipted and accounted for and audited.[/quote] Expenses, yes. Wholeheartedly agree. However, some of the allowances are essentially remuneration for doing the job i.e. salary. You can't expect salary to be accounted for and audited.
The trouble is that councillors vote for their own allowances, expenses and salaries - who oversees and governs these decisions? How do we know we're getting value for money? Even the remuneration panel's findings can be ignored, so what's the point?
There should be a fixed scale, set by government that applies to all local government positions, including the rates of expenses that can be claimed, and what they can be claimed for. All expenses should be accounted for and justified - just like mine. Another example where public sector is different to the private sector. Those in public office seem to have a wanton disregard for how public money is spent. Money is such an emotive area. With no regulation, it's no wonder it seems the public are so distrusting of politicians.
Very interesting decision by the outgoing Italian government to publish the entire population's earnings on their website. If that were done in the UK (aside from the outcry and uproar) it would be the cat amongst the politician's pigeons!!
hulla wrote:
George wrote:
mr x wrote: two of them took home more than £50,000 in allowances and expenses. expenses should be for expenses not a huge tax free wage on top of the wage they already get. they should have to prove where every penny has gone just like the rest of us do. if this money finds it's way into there bank accounts that is theft and they should investigated by the police and inland revenue.
Erm, to whom are you reporting where you spend every penny of your money?
It is not their money, but taxpayers, and as such, every penny should be receipted and accounted for and audited.
Expenses, yes. Wholeheartedly agree. However, some of the allowances are essentially remuneration for doing the job i.e. salary. You can't expect salary to be accounted for and audited.
The trouble is that councillors vote for their own allowances, expenses and salaries - who oversees and governs these decisions? How do we know we're getting value for money? Even the remuneration panel's findings can be ignored, so what's the point?
There should be a fixed scale, set by government that applies to all local government positions, including the rates of expenses that can be claimed, and what they can be claimed for. All expenses should be accounted for and justified - just like mine. Another example where public sector is different to the private sector. Those in public office seem to have a wanton disregard for how public money is spent. Money is such an emotive area. With no regulation, it's no wonder it seems the public are so distrusting of politicians.
Very interesting decision by the outgoing Italian government to publish the entire population's earnings on their website. If that were done in the UK (aside from the outcry and uproar) it would be the cat amongst the politician's pigeons!!
[quote][bold]hulla[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]George[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]mr x[/bold] wrote: [bold]two of them took home more than
£50,000 in allowances and expenses.[/bold] expenses should be for
expenses not a huge tax free wage on top of the wage they already get.
they should have to prove where every penny has gone just like the rest
of us do. if this money finds it's way into there bank accounts that is
theft and they should investigated by the police and inland
revenue.[/quote] Erm, to whom are you reporting where you spend every
penny of your money?[/quote] It is not their money, but taxpayers, and
as such, every penny should be receipted and accounted for and audited.[/quote] I absolutely agree. I was just wondering why mr x thinks they should be accountable "just like the rest of us". Because I don't remember ever being asked what I spend all my money on
hulla wrote:
George wrote:
mr x wrote: two of them took home more than
£50,000 in allowances and expenses. expenses should be for
expenses not a huge tax free wage on top of the wage they already get.
they should have to prove where every penny has gone just like the rest
of us do. if this money finds it's way into there bank accounts that is
theft and they should investigated by the police and inland
revenue.
Erm, to whom are you reporting where you spend every
penny of your money?
It is not their money, but taxpayers, and
as such, every penny should be receipted and accounted for and audited.
I absolutely agree. I was just wondering why mr x thinks they should be accountable "just like the rest of us". Because I don't remember ever being asked what I spend all my money on
Posted by: Family Man, Bitterne on 12:29pm Fri 9 May 08
This debate and invitation to comment is about as meaningless as;
"You're paid too much!"
"Oh no we're not!"
"Oh yes you are!"
" I don't agree, but you can say what you like anyway, I will simply ignore you and pay myself some more!"
"But it's my taxes that pay you!"
"So what!?"
This debate and invitation to comment is about as meaningless as;
"You're paid too much!"
"Oh no we're not!"
"Oh yes you are!"
" I don't agree, but you can say what you like anyway, I will simply ignore you and pay myself some more!"
[quote][bold]taxpayer[/bold] wrote:
Instead of writing on here why don't you all send your comments to the Panel at irp@hants.gov.uk.[/quote] Because I'd prefer them to actually be read
taxpayer wrote:
Instead of writing on here why don't you all send your comments to the Panel at irp@hants.gov.uk.
Posted by: Mike S isitfair.co.uk, Hants on 6:38pm Fri 9 May 08
[quote][bold]taxpayer[/bold] wrote:
Instead of writing on here why don\'t you all send your comments to the Panel at irp@hants.gov.uk.[/quote] Quite! Moaning amongst ourselves won't achieve anything. Write, email or be there on the day to have your say. They can't hang you for what you say.
taxpayer wrote:
Instead of writing on here why don\'t you all send your comments to the Panel at irp@hants.gov.uk.
Quite! Moaning amongst ourselves won't achieve anything. Write, email or be there on the day to have your say. They can't hang you for what you say.
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