Wednesday 29 August 2012

Councillors Expenses

The Tax Payers Alliance will be investigating councillors expenses, as the Tax Payers Alliance believe the expenses given to councillors are far too much, and the role of the local councillors is about providing a community service and should not come with expenses more than the average salary of the area they represent. Volunteers and charity workers receive a small expenses or no expenses for the great work they do in the community, and little recognition. I am aware times have changed in local government and councillors need to make telephone calls, have mobiles and have access to the internet and attend meetings which all cost money, and these facilities are paid from their expenses. My issue is with the portifolio holders and the leader of the Southend Borough Council who does earn more than the average Southend salary. In the public interest I would like to see a break down of all the portifolios holders and the leader of council expenses to see where savings can be made. The majority of the people of Southend are having to budget their finances and make cutbacks. I believe portofolio holders expenses should be cutback to!!!

3 comments:

  1. Claire,

    I wonder if there is a purpose to this blog post, except trying to "whip up" issues that just aren't there?

    When I was elected the first question someone (tongue in cheek fortunately) asked me when I returned to work was "Have you flipped your home yet?". It just really isn't like that!

    In the municipal year 2011/12 (when I was not a portfolio holder) I claimed a total of £32.30 in expenses (a train ticket to London to attend an event about child protection).

    To date in the municipal year 2012/13 (where I am now a portfolio holder) I have claimed £0.00 to date.

    The amount claimed in expenses is available on the council website. As you obviously haven't bothered to check this, I'll help you out; Cllr Holdcroft (Leader of the Council) is on record as stating he has not claimed any travel expenses as Leader. The Council website goes further than that and shows him as not having claimed any expenses since before becoming leader.

    I am sure there is a point to your post, but I am not sure many people will get it...

    James Courtenay
    Executive Councillor, Children & Learning.

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  2. Claire

    Not sure if you have read one of my pages on my blog but I have been transparent for some time now in what allowances and expenses I receive and I claim for and do not claim for.

    For those that are interested the page can be found here: http://shoeburyblogger.blogspot.co.uk/p/basic-allowance-each-elected-councillor.html

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  3. I would like to Thank Cllr Cox and Courtenay, for replying to my blog. As I now know somebody reads it!!!

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