Cost of councillors rises past £700,000

June 12, 2009

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MORE than £700,000 was picked up in allowances by Rochdale councillors last year - an increase of over £20,000.

They receive a basic £7,644, but many receive more, some running into thousands of pounds, for extra duties and responsibilities.

A total £707,050 of council tax money was paid out, a total which also includes travel expenses and allowances for time spent attending meetings. This compares to £686,401.98 for the previous 12 months.

Topping the table was Councillor Alan Taylor, leader of the council, who received £30,649. Last year he received £29,808.

His deputy Councillor Irene Davidson picked up £19,283.

Husband and wife Councillors Wera and William Hobhouse received a combined total of £32,471.36, including £16,883.48 for their special responsibilities for their roles on the council’s cabinet.

William Hobhouse received an additional £1,335 for his role as council representative on the Greater Manchester pension fund advisory committee.

Special responsibilities include being leader of the council or leader of the opposition parties, being chairman of a committee, or taking responsibility for dealing with particular areas of work.

A council spokesman said that although councillors are volunteers and are unpaid, they do receive payments set by an independent review body to help meet the costs of representing their communities.

The spokesman added that the basic allowance paid to Rochdale Council members was one of the lowest in Greater Manchester and it will remain the same in 2009/10 after councillors voted for a freeze.

Councillor Brenda Kerslake receive an additional £1,932 and Councillor Christine Akram £1,932 for their Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority duties.

Malcolm Allan of the independent remuneration panel for members allowances said: "Allowances are linked to the average earnings of residents in the borough and compared with those of other councillors in the region.

"Expenses and allowances are an emotive issue and openness on this matter is clearly important to local residents.

"We use a formula to calculate the allowances using the latest data.

"We regularly review the formula as well as the duties of councillors and the time they spend on council business."

You can see full details of councillors' expenses in Saturday's Observer

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James Allan Whitehead (12/06/2009 at 12:27)

Much has been said about this subject, and I do not think £11,666 is a lot for Councillors. I would think we may be getting things on the cheap if the truth is known. Every penny will have been accounted for Taxed and without any possibility of any Councillors cheating, Their increas is only 0.91 pence per day above last years.

simon woodend (12/06/2009 at 14:06)

Nice little earners for some!
Silly me. I thought that councillors wanted to serve the people, not rip them off! To many councillors, this is only part-time work!
More snouts in the trough!!

James Allan Whitehead (12/06/2009 at 16:08)

I do not know if Mr Woodend, is aware of the work an elected member puts into the job of representing the Electorate that voted him/her to the Council. You see Mr. Woodend, I have been a Councillor, and without the allowance and expenses, I could not have afforded to be a Councillor. I did my best for those I represented. untill I felt it was time to retire from the Council. Having had time to reflect, I would do it again under the same conditions. Although With the wages I lost from my full time job was in the region of 4 to 5000.00 pounds per year, so I actually lost money. I lost out on overtime because I had to work 39hrs before I went on enhanced payments. Yes I wanted to serve like every Councillor I know. Yet if you ask any of the 60 councillors who could afford to do the work of a Concillor
without monies they recieve,
Both in attendace allowances and some expenses. You would finish up with mostly people paid by the state plying for Council. us pensioners.

Henry Kelly, Ireland (14/06/2009 at 02:24)

And as council employees' salaries are being slashed.....it's a disgrace

simon woodend (14/06/2009 at 20:41)

I do not see what Mr. Whitehead's gripe is. As he stated he would serve as a councillor for no so-called allowances.
The point is that public service is an honour and privilege and is meant to be done by able men and women who WANT to serve their fellow citizens. Modern day councillors want to emulate M.P.s and make serving the people a nice little earner.

simon woodend (14/06/2009 at 20:43)

Sorry about this addendum. Mr. Woodhead, there are too many spelling mistakes and grammatical errors in your submission. Perhaps this is a qualification for a councillor?

The Evangelist33, Rochdale (16/06/2009 at 10:51)

The question is, are the public getting value for money. May be councillors will tell us what they have done for Rochdale.? Rochdale is not in a very good place at present.

rosina, brisbane Queensland, Australia (17/06/2009 at 13:01)

onik onik,...i smell bacon!!!!

EppyAndy, Rochdale (21/06/2009 at 01:00)

surely the money they receive from ripping us off with 0845 telephone numbers should pay for this. In which case, should I be glad I am charged everytime I need to ring the council!!!!!

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