Hampshire county councillors' earnings (From Daily Echo)
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Hampshire County Councillor Keith House earns more than an MP
1:30pm Thursday 18th October 2012 in Politics By Rachel Masker
Keith House
HAMPSHIRE’S highest paid county councillor has a bigger pay packet than MPs, the Daily Echo can reveal.
Liberal Democrat Keith House was paid almost £67,500 by holding five public paid positions in 2011-12.
His role as Eastleigh council boss is his main job. But he is also opposition leader on the county council and sits on three other bodies.
Mr House, 47, had more paid roles or “hats” than any other Hampshire councillor, according to new figures compiled by anticouncil tax group IsItFair.
The scale of his allowances have brought fresh protests from the group outraged at the way some elected councillors are professional politicians.
But Mr House, a full-time politician, said it was for voters to decide at the ballot box if he was worth it.
He said: “In Eastleigh, I have kept council tax down, have protected services, improved facilities and followed- up on case work. In Hampshire, I have kept the administration to account.”
Payments to 78 county councillors now cost taxpayers £1.9m a year.
As well as being paid £12,000 just for being members of the county council, most claim multiple allowances for also sitting on district councils, the fire and police authorities and other bodies, including New Forest National Park Authority.
And 40 county councillors have joined the generous pension scheme enjoyed by local government staff, guaranteeing them an income based on the allowances which they are paid as councillors.
Taxpayer-funded employer contributions to their pension pots cost £120,841 – pushing the cost of their total pay and pensions over the £2m mark.
Christine Melsom, Hampshirebased founder of IsitFair, said: “Many people seem to think their councillor does this job ‘pro bono’ but that could not be further from the truth.
“It is a job and they receive a salary and many of them also get a pension.”
As boss of Eastleigh council, Cllr House was paid £28,381 in allowances and expenses and he picked up £26,216 for his role as leader of the opposition on the county c o u n - cil. He received £12,500 for sitting on the boards of the former South East England Economic Development Agency (SEEDA), and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) which funds new affordable housing.
Mr House also netted an estimated £4,537 as deputy chairman of a Local Government Association (LGA) committee, an umbrella group for local authorities.
The father-of-four said his work at SEEDA and HCA were ministerial appointments unrelated to being a councillor while his LGA role gave him the opportunity to argue nationally for policies that would benefit Hampshire.
Excluding expenses, these five calls on the public purse bring his total to £67,471 – more than an MP’s salary of £65,738.
Meanwhile his partner of 12 years, Louise Bloom, an Eastleigh Borough councillor, collected £14,000 as one of Cllr House’s inner circle in the Cabinet.
Conservative Sean Woodward was paid £51,083 as a backbench county councillor, leader of Fareham Borough Council and a member of Hampshire Police Authority. He also runs a healthcare company.
Fellow Tory Mel Kendal was paid £49,575 as a Cabinet member of the county council, a member of New Forest District Council and Hampshire Police Authority. He is a self-employed investment consultant.
In total, the county council alone forked out £1.4m for councillor allowances and expenses in 2011-12.
The county froze councillor allowances for the third year running to save money but has not reduced them despite cutting services and jobs.
Peter Fleming, chairman of the Local Government Association, defended allowances, saying: “Providing financial support ensures that local democracy does not become the preserve of the privileged few who can afford to give their time for free.”
Comments(25)
Vonnie
says...
2:25pm Thu 18 Oct 12
southy
says...
2:26pm Thu 18 Oct 12
Torchie1 wrote:Yes Torchie and many like me what to put a stop to this, and bring it to an end its jobs for the old boys club, its jobs like this is where a lot of your tax money is going to and then they have the cheek to avoid paying full amount of tax.
Is this why Comrade Southy is desperately seeking public office ?
Royston smith sits on bodys like this and earn a fair amount, think he still the highest earner on Southampton council.
While they are still getting these very high wages and also avoid paying the right amount of tax, Public Services and Jobs are getting cut, in the end you have all these people earning theres sort of wages, but you will have no services but less well off will be still expected to pay the full amount of tax.
Oh Torchie did you read the latest IMF report.
Ted Rogers
says...
2:26pm Thu 18 Oct 12
Let's report like for like please.
peenut81
says...
2:29pm Thu 18 Oct 12
Shoong
says...
2:33pm Thu 18 Oct 12
southy wrote:Tax avoidance? Do you have any proof of this?
Torchie1 wrote:Yes Torchie and many like me what to put a stop to this, and bring it to an end its jobs for the old boys club, its jobs like this is where a lot of your tax money is going to and then they have the cheek to avoid paying full amount of tax.
Is this why Comrade Southy is desperately seeking public office ?
Royston smith sits on bodys like this and earn a fair amount, think he still the highest earner on Southampton council.
While they are still getting these very high wages and also avoid paying the right amount of tax, Public Services and Jobs are getting cut, in the end you have all these people earning theres sort of wages, but you will have no services but less well off will be still expected to pay the full amount of tax.
Oh Torchie did you read the latest IMF report.
Or do you just mean they are not paying the amount of tax YOU want to see them paying?
TheJoiners
says...
2:35pm Thu 18 Oct 12
Id vote for Southy, Nick Chaffey Parmi anyone but these scumbags
On the inside
says...
2:45pm Thu 18 Oct 12
phil maccavity
says...
4:20pm Thu 18 Oct 12
Vonnie wrote:Vonnie
I couldn't care less how much people are paid for individual parts of what they do, as long as they actually do what they are supposed to be doing, and do it properly and effectively.
Have to agree with you.
In view of the responsibilities involved I think £60k in todays world is reasonable provided the people involved earn their keep
I am sure Southy is a fine fellow but, based on his rather vague, inaccurate and dogmatic posts on here, I wouldn't want him involved in running local services even on a pro bono basis
Roy S
says...
4:38pm Thu 18 Oct 12
originalsfc
says...
5:17pm Thu 18 Oct 12
.............and to think hes never had a proper job.
Clever bloke.
Shoong
says...
5:22pm Thu 18 Oct 12
Roy S wrote:so you must have your brain in your ar$e...
I'd vote for him, his heart is in the right place unlike many others whose heart is in their wallet.
southy
says...
6:43pm Thu 18 Oct 12
phil maccavity wrote:Well Phil you have all ways been one for the private sector to take public money. and not let it go where its ment to go on public services.
Vonnie wrote:Vonnie
I couldn't care less how much people are paid for individual parts of what they do, as long as they actually do what they are supposed to be doing, and do it properly and effectively.
Have to agree with you.
In view of the responsibilities involved I think £60k in todays world is reasonable provided the people involved earn their keep
I am sure Southy is a fine fellow but, based on his rather vague, inaccurate and dogmatic posts on here, I wouldn't want him involved in running local services even on a pro bono basis
Torchie1
says...
6:50pm Thu 18 Oct 12
Shoong wrote:I couldn't find any mention of tax avoidance in the Echo article but I expect he read it in the 'library edition'. Poor old Southy conveniently forgetting that whether you don't pay tax on income or avoid tax by getting your rolling tobacco 'under the counter', it still amounts to a loss to the Exchequer. One prostitute may charge £5.00 and another £500.00 but they are still both prostitutes.
southy wrote:Tax avoidance? Do you have any proof of this?
Torchie1 wrote:Yes Torchie and many like me what to put a stop to this, and bring it to an end its jobs for the old boys club, its jobs like this is where a lot of your tax money is going to and then they have the cheek to avoid paying full amount of tax.
Is this why Comrade Southy is desperately seeking public office ?
Royston smith sits on bodys like this and earn a fair amount, think he still the highest earner on Southampton council.
While they are still getting these very high wages and also avoid paying the right amount of tax, Public Services and Jobs are getting cut, in the end you have all these people earning theres sort of wages, but you will have no services but less well off will be still expected to pay the full amount of tax.
Oh Torchie did you read the latest IMF report.
Or do you just mean they are not paying the amount of tax YOU want to see them paying?
Torchie1
says...
7:01pm Thu 18 Oct 12
southy wrote:Tell me of the 76 pages you couldn't understand and I'll see if I can help.
Torchie1 wrote:Yes Torchie and many like me what to put a stop to this, and bring it to an end its jobs for the old boys club, its jobs like this is where a lot of your tax money is going to and then they have the cheek to avoid paying full amount of tax.
Is this why Comrade Southy is desperately seeking public office ?
Royston smith sits on bodys like this and earn a fair amount, think he still the highest earner on Southampton council.
While they are still getting these very high wages and also avoid paying the right amount of tax, Public Services and Jobs are getting cut, in the end you have all these people earning theres sort of wages, but you will have no services but less well off will be still expected to pay the full amount of tax.
Oh Torchie did you read the latest IMF report.
honour
says...
7:04pm Thu 18 Oct 12
I appeal to everyone use your vote.at every occasion only then they just might listen if huge numbers lose their seats.
stuartjebbitt
says...
7:29pm Thu 18 Oct 12
southy
says...
7:46pm Thu 18 Oct 12
Torchie1 wrote:your not likely to find it in the echo, try looking lower down on the TPA long list.
Shoong wrote:I couldn't find any mention of tax avoidance in the Echo article but I expect he read it in the 'library edition'. Poor old Southy conveniently forgetting that whether you don't pay tax on income or avoid tax by getting your rolling tobacco 'under the counter', it still amounts to a loss to the Exchequer. One prostitute may charge £5.00 and another £500.00 but they are still both prostitutes.
southy wrote:Tax avoidance? Do you have any proof of this?
Torchie1 wrote:Yes Torchie and many like me what to put a stop to this, and bring it to an end its jobs for the old boys club, its jobs like this is where a lot of your tax money is going to and then they have the cheek to avoid paying full amount of tax.
Is this why Comrade Southy is desperately seeking public office ?
Royston smith sits on bodys like this and earn a fair amount, think he still the highest earner on Southampton council.
While they are still getting these very high wages and also avoid paying the right amount of tax, Public Services and Jobs are getting cut, in the end you have all these people earning theres sort of wages, but you will have no services but less well off will be still expected to pay the full amount of tax.
Oh Torchie did you read the latest IMF report.
Or do you just mean they are not paying the amount of tax YOU want to see them paying?
If you think for one moment that I buy my tobacco under the counter, then you are accusing Kendle Ave Shops off buying illegal tobacco.
southy
says...
7:48pm Thu 18 Oct 12
Torchie1 wrote:The IMF has just reported that it too has got its figures wrong. It’s now worked out that every £1 cut reduces growth between 90p and £1.70.
southy wrote:Tell me of the 76 pages you couldn't understand and I'll see if I can help.
Torchie1 wrote:Yes Torchie and many like me what to put a stop to this, and bring it to an end its jobs for the old boys club, its jobs like this is where a lot of your tax money is going to and then they have the cheek to avoid paying full amount of tax.
Is this why Comrade Southy is desperately seeking public office ?
Royston smith sits on bodys like this and earn a fair amount, think he still the highest earner on Southampton council.
While they are still getting these very high wages and also avoid paying the right amount of tax, Public Services and Jobs are getting cut, in the end you have all these people earning theres sort of wages, but you will have no services but less well off will be still expected to pay the full amount of tax.
Oh Torchie did you read the latest IMF report.
This is the part of the report, and what we on the left have been saying for a very long time.
Making cuts is killing the economy.
southy
says...
7:50pm Thu 18 Oct 12
honour wrote:This could happen easy if we can get those that are not registered to vote to register and vote and also get those have not voted to vote, there is more than enough to white wash all 3 main partys.
I will not vote for any of the so-called three major parties they are all greedy, they don’t care what any of us think
I appeal to everyone use your vote.at every occasion only then they just might listen if huge numbers lose their seats.
southy
says...
7:52pm Thu 18 Oct 12
stuartjebbitt wrote:yes well the Right wing are very well known to do this, think of them selfs and no one else
Riding the gravy train - snouts in the trough
The Watcher
says...
12:00am Fri 19 Oct 12
Does anyone know what the current incumbent (Cllr Williams) is pulling in?
Have to say I was staggered by some of the sums involved in this report and would love to see the Taxpayers Alliance delve deeper in to some of these astronomical sums.
Torchie1
says...
12:22am Fri 19 Oct 12
southy wrote:The 'left' saw problems before the IMF identified them and still no-one will vote for you. Life can be so unfair.
Torchie1 wrote:The IMF has just reported that it too has got its figures wrong. It’s now worked out that every £1 cut reduces growth between 90p and £1.70.
southy wrote:Tell me of the 76 pages you couldn't understand and I'll see if I can help.
Torchie1 wrote:Yes Torchie and many like me what to put a stop to this, and bring it to an end its jobs for the old boys club, its jobs like this is where a lot of your tax money is going to and then they have the cheek to avoid paying full amount of tax.
Is this why Comrade Southy is desperately seeking public office ?
Royston smith sits on bodys like this and earn a fair amount, think he still the highest earner on Southampton council.
While they are still getting these very high wages and also avoid paying the right amount of tax, Public Services and Jobs are getting cut, in the end you have all these people earning theres sort of wages, but you will have no services but less well off will be still expected to pay the full amount of tax.
Oh Torchie did you read the latest IMF report.
This is the part of the report, and what we on the left have been saying for a very long time.
Making cuts is killing the economy.
FoysCornerBoy
says...
10:12am Fri 19 Oct 12
The Watcher wrote:I'm a tax payer but I don't know anything about this 'Tax Payers Alliance' , who its accountable to or where it gets its money from.
I read in the paper version that the last leader of the Council (Cllr Royston Smith) was pulling in £50,000 from his public appointments.
Does anyone know what the current incumbent (Cllr Williams) is pulling in?
Have to say I was staggered by some of the sums involved in this report and would love to see the Taxpayers Alliance delve deeper in to some of these astronomical sums.
I have no problem about elected representatives getting paid - so long as it is an open and transparent process and there is some performance-related element.
I think that a Council leader who works full time on the job should be paid at the same rate as an MP - provided that this was their only source of income.
I object to those politicians who draw the maximum allowances and expenses due them from the public purse while raking in vast sums of money from various directorships, shareholdings and properties that they own. Maybe this is something that the Tax Payers Alliance could focus on.
Shoong
says...
10:19am Fri 19 Oct 12
southy wrote:Utter hypocrisy and propaganda. The figures are all there to see regarding Union masters and the benefits they get from the mugs they promise to represent.
stuartjebbitt wrote:yes well the Right wing are very well known to do this, think of them selfs and no one else
Riding the gravy train - snouts in the trough
I suppose calling tube strikes during the Olympics is considerate then despite already getting a sweetener?
The hypocrisy doesn't end.
Torchie1 says...
2:12pm Thu 18 Oct 12