Councillors’ expenses: just over £500

May 27, 2009

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COUNCIL leader Roy Oldham has dived into the expenses row – by declaring his own.

Speaking at a full council meeting, Councillor Oldham referred to the current scandal over MPs’ use of parliamentary expenses and revealed that only a handful of councillors had claimed expenses for the last financial year, totalling just over £500.

He said: "Before anyone starts asking questions about councillors’ expenses, I thought it would be wise to explain what we have done. This list is available to the public.

"There are only eight councillors claiming any expenses this year and they total £529.83, and that’s across 57 councillors so that’s not bad.

"I don’t think we are in the trough."

The list reveals that councillors’ claims mainly paid for transport or training.

Conservative councillor for Stalybridge South, Doreen Dickinson, who sits on Tameside’s planning committee, has claimed the highest figure – £253 – for a planning summer school in Scotland.

Councillor Richard Ambler, Conservative member for Ashton Hurst ward, claimed the lowest amount – £19 – for a training course in London.

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Mr. Charles Worth, Neither here nor there (28/05/2009 at 00:43)

Doreen Dickinson applying for expenses relating to her work as Deputy Chairman on the planning committee seems justified. She has a very a good reputation as a councillor. What I can't understand is how the Chairman of Planning doesn't seem to have incurred any costs. Also, all the councillors travel costs are incorporated in their annual salary, yet the Labour Leader appears to be driven around in a Jaguar. Does he pay for this privately or do we, as council taxpayers, pay for it in addition to the salary he receives?

Dennis the Menace, Hyde (28/05/2009 at 01:20)

NOW THIS REALLY WORRIES ME .........If as "Sir Roy" says ... "we are not in the trough" and tha allowances claimed are so low ...... What I would really like to know is what level of Salaries are being paid ????? .... I FEEL THE RESIDENTS OF TAMESIDE ARE ONLY BEING TOLD HALF THE TALE HERE ......
Come on Roy, tell the Council taxpayers what the Councillors are REALLY COSTING US !!!, I CHALLENGE YOU !!!!!!

King Julian III (28/05/2009 at 08:27)

Oh the power of creative accounting, how's it been hidden? are they known under some obscure title?

Publish (On the public website) and be dammed.

Oh how I laughed!!!!!!!!!

if-only, dukinfield (28/05/2009 at 12:18)

HANG ON A MINUTE, i notice someone called ROY OLDHAM hasnt told us how much he`s pocketing, i seem to remember it cost a dam sight more than 500quid to put a security system on his bungalow.
COME ON OLDHAM, TELL US WHAT YOUR GETTING AWAY WITH?????????

thomas of droy, droylsden (28/05/2009 at 19:38)

he's not driven round in a jag it's a top of the range volvo, 24/7 if he wishes to, but you can only attend so many functions in one day!lets see what they are really milking us for!

Elliott Pest, Newton, Nr. Hyde. (28/05/2009 at 21:05)

Aye, and pigs might fly ...I wonder who massaged them figures.
Will the voting public who put them in office ever find out the truth?
Enough said.

King Julian III (29/05/2009 at 09:25)

Thomas the volvo is so last year, shiny jag this year, come see what you have bought!

Fed-up Tameside Employee, Droylsden (01/06/2009 at 14:17)

Another day on planet Roy Oldham! It must be lovely to live there!

gladys rowbotham, Manchester (02/06/2009 at 18:40)

Every Councillor gets a minimum of £11,625 every year no matter what they do or don't do. This includes a £1,632 "consolidated allowance of £1632 to cover telephone subsistence and travel within Tameside" - no receipts needed!

Of course the allowances shoot up according to the special responsibilty Mr Oldham appoints the Councillor to perform. This varies from £35,679 for the Executive Leader to £19,900 for each of the 10 cabinet Deputies; lots of other jobs attracting appropriate(?) allowances

- more on the Council's website under Constitution.

Dennis the Menace, Hyde (03/06/2009 at 16:52)

Thank you to Gladys for that information .... but I have suspicions that Roy's money far exceeds what the "Council Constitution" suggests .......

gladys rowbotham, Manchester (03/06/2009 at 17:53)

Well he's Chair of the GM Local authorities pension Fund for one.............

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