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Unitary plan expenses claim rejected
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| Cllr Rod Eaton |
WEST Wiltshire councillors who attempted to secure expenses payments for working on a unitary council committee have been criticised.
As part of the move toward one council for Wiltshire the four district councils and one county council have nominated representatives to sit on the implementation executive.
This committee, made up of councillors from all five authorities and chaired by Cllr Jane Scott, is trying to bring together the services each provides into one streamlined operation.
The first formal meeting of the executive took place last week. At the meeting on March 19 at County Hall, West Wilts councillors Tony Phillips and Rod Eaton, put forward a motion requesting that councillors on the committee be entitled to claim expenses in the form of a special responsibility allowance for the detailed work they were doing.
A vote was taken on whether to discuss the concept of a special responsibility allowance but there was little support for the motion and the West Wilts councillors were defeated. No debate took place.
Jane Scott, chairman of the implementation executive, said: "During the next year we will be working together to ensure the new Wiltshire Council delivers high quality services locally and at less cost to council tax payers.
"There is much work to be done, but with the help and support of members and staff across the five existing councils, I believe a new council will emerge in which Wiltshire's residents will take pride and which will be seen nationally as a flagship local authority."
County councillor Jeff Osborn said: "I have serious doubt as to whether members of the implementation executive merit extra pay.
"The cabinet at West Wilts will have less work to do and will consequently meet less often as unitary approaches."
Wiltshire County Council said: "The motion was defeated and there will be no special responsibility allowance for members of the implementation executive."
3:32pm Monday 24th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: ronnie, deepest wiltshire on 6:57pm Mon 24 Mar 08
All out just to line thier pockets and build up a bigger bank balance in case they are defeated at the elections.
All out just to line thier pockets and build up a bigger bank balance in case they are defeated at the elections.
Posted by: ronnie, deepest wiltshire on 7:05pm Mon 24 Mar 08
All trying to line thier pockets and boost thier bank balance in case they do not get in next election.
All trying to line thier pockets and boost thier bank balance in case they do not get in next election.
Posted by: Russell Hawker, WESTBURY on 8:12pm Mon 24 Mar 08
It's unfortunate that Rod Eaton raised the question as I'm sure he does not need the money himself, being a retired successful accountant.
It would be interesting to know what reasons were put forward to justify the idea (eg. other positions of responsibility and which take up lots of extra time usually get a small extra allowance and why not for the new executive which has more big issues than normal to resolve).
No-one calls the allowances "salary" or "wages" as the allowances for councillors are so low in local government that they would breach minimum wage legislation if they did.
It's not a proposal I would have put forward, as I've never claimed extra allowances or expenses despite being entitled to do so (- actually many councillors don't claim their monthly expenses, so I'm not saying that this is special).
But, Rod is a particularly hard-working individual and he happens to be extremely well-qualified in a way which is certain to be helpful towards sorting out the many administration problems the "implementation executive" will deal with.
I wonder if he simply got carried away with the process of identifying the scope of the work and responsibilities of the new implementation executive and asked the question to see how it would go.
As there was no debate about the matter, its clear that Rod was not too bothered either way.
It's unfortunate that Rod Eaton raised the question as I'm sure he does not need the money himself, being a retired successful accountant.
It would be interesting to know what reasons were put forward to justify the idea (eg. other positions of responsibility and which take up lots of extra time usually get a small extra allowance and why not for the new executive which has more big issues than normal to resolve).
No-one calls the allowances "salary" or "wages" as the allowances for councillors are so low in local government that they would breach minimum wage legislation if they did.
It's not a proposal I would have put forward, as I've never claimed extra allowances or expenses despite being entitled to do so (- actually many councillors don't claim their monthly expenses, so I'm not saying that this is special).
But, Rod is a particularly hard-working individual and he happens to be extremely well-qualified in a way which is certain to be helpful towards sorting out the many administration problems the "implementation executive" will deal with.
I wonder if he simply got carried away with the process of identifying the scope of the work and responsibilities of the new implementation executive and asked the question to see how it would go.
As there was no debate about the matter, its clear that Rod was not too bothered either way.
Posted by: realistic old man, West wilts on 9:19am Tue 25 Mar 08
Old habits die hard - the phrase 'snouts in the trough' springs to mind !
Old habits die hard - the phrase 'snouts in the trough' springs to mind !
Posted by: Whiteraven, Wiltshire on 12:04pm Tue 25 Mar 08
Of course we could always do it the 19th century way - only the rich and those who own land could stand for election and not allow any expense claims or allowances!
Of course we could always do it the 19th century way - only the rich and those who own land could stand for election and not allow any expense claims or allowances!
Posted by: walter, wilshur on 3:56pm Tue 25 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Whiteraven[/bold] wrote:
Of course we could always do it the 19th century way - only the rich and those who own land could stand for election and not allow any expense claims or allowances![/quote] People man lifeboats and go out into a howling gale to save others voluntarily, and have often given their lives. Is it too much to ask that councillors do the job THEY WANTED TO DO without, as ROM says, "their snouts in the trough"?
Whiteraven wrote:
Of course we could always do it the 19th century way - only the rich and those who own land could stand for election and not allow any expense claims or allowances!
People man lifeboats and go out into a howling gale to save others voluntarily, and have often given their lives. Is it too much to ask that councillors do the job THEY WANTED TO DO without, as ROM says, "their snouts in the trough"?
Posted by: YetiJoe, Trow on 8:46pm Tue 25 Mar 08
Mmmm I agree with your concerns Whiteraven, if the rich can only stand I wonder whose interests they'll look out for....
Nothing wrong with being paid for work, our Councillor's are no different. I suspect their interests run more to ego massaging and power (to influence their personal business interests) than the direct money from the role.
Mmmm I agree with your concerns Whiteraven, if the rich can only stand I wonder whose interests they'll look out for....
Nothing wrong with being paid for work, our Councillor's are no different. I suspect their interests run more to ego massaging and power (to influence their personal business interests) than the direct money from the role.
Posted by: Russell Hawker, WESTBURY on 9:43pm Tue 25 Mar 08
[bold]CORRECTION[/bold]
I have now seen enough correct information to be sure that the entire article above is a misrepresentation of the truth about the discussion about allowances for those who are on the County Council's Implementation Executive.
In fact, there are 2 representatives on this committee from each of the 4 district councils. Only the 2 West Wilts councillors do not get an allowance.
Here is a copy of the relevant Minutes from the meeting:
"Mr Phillips reported that his Council felt that there should be one consistent scheme of allowances to recognise the additional responsibilities for all members of the IE and that as the IE was a committee of the County Council’s Cabinet, this allowance should be paid by the County Council."
ACTION
That the County Council be asked to appoint a Member Remuneration Panel to consider the IE’s request that an allowance be paid to its members.
--------------------
Any intelligent person can see that the article above is a gross misrepresentation of the real story and facts in this matter, not least because it was not actually Cllr Rod Eaton who said anything anyway!
CORRECTION
I have now seen enough correct information to be sure that the entire article above is a misrepresentation of the truth about the discussion about allowances for those who are on the County Council's Implementation Executive.
In fact, there are 2 representatives on this committee from each of the 4 district councils. Only the 2 West Wilts councillors do not get an allowance.
Here is a copy of the relevant Minutes from the meeting:
"Mr Phillips reported that his Council felt that there should be one consistent scheme of allowances to recognise the additional responsibilities for all members of the IE and that as the IE was a committee of the County Council’s Cabinet, this allowance should be paid by the County Council."
ACTION
That the County Council be asked to appoint a Member Remuneration Panel to consider the IE’s request that an allowance be paid to its members.
--------------------
Any intelligent person can see that the article above is a gross misrepresentation of the real story and facts in this matter, not least because it was not actually Cllr Rod Eaton who said anything anyway!
Posted by: walter, wilshur on 6:08am Wed 26 Mar 08
Then I suppose there'll be a motion to pay the Member Renumeration Panel an allowance!
Then I suppose there'll be a motion to pay the Member Renumeration Panel an allowance!
Posted by: Russell Hawker, WESTBURY on 7:29pm Fri 28 Mar 08
I was very disappointed to see that the above highly misleading article made it into print.
I am in no doubt that Rod Eaton has been badly maligned by this sloppy article.
I was very disappointed to see that the above highly misleading article made it into print.
I am in no doubt that Rod Eaton has been badly maligned by this sloppy article.
Posted by: Russell Hawker, WESTBURY on 7:30pm Fri 28 Mar 08
I can't speak for Rod, but I'd be taking legal advice about this story ... if only to ensure a correction is made next week.
I can't speak for Rod, but I'd be taking legal advice about this story ... if only to ensure a correction is made next week.
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