HAMPSHIRE council tax payers
can have their say on county
councillors' allowances as part of
an independent review
announced this week.
Advertisements are being
placed in newspapers inviting residents
- who foot the bill - to
give their views in writing or in
person at a public hearing at the
council's headquarters in Winchester
on June 26.
Peter Humphreys, chairman of
the three-strong remuneration
panel, said: "This is an important
review.
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"It comes at a time when there
is concern at the health of local
democracy and we will be looking
closely at all the issues."
The review could lead to an
increase in allowances in an
attempt to attract more younger
councillors.
Cllr Sam Payne, 25, who represents
Petersfield Butser, had
argued her council work prevented
her from being able to hold
even a part-time job.
She said allowances unsupplemented
by other income made it
impossible to get a mortgage.
Last year's salary bill for 78
county councillors was £1.23m,
which is set to rise again this year
as councillors voted to increase
their pay in line with the national
pay award for local government.
The basic allowance for councillors
is currently £11,565 plus an
extra £27,913 for Cllr Ken Thornber
as leader of the council, and
£16,747 for 10 cabinet members.
Councillors also claimed
£111,173 in travel and expenses in
2006/7, according to the latest figures
available.
But anti-council tax group, IsIt-
Fair, argue too much public
money is already spent on
allowances and expenses while
householders face tax hikes and
cuts in services.
The review will consider the
allowances paid compared to
other local authorities and the
private sector, hours of work and
responsibilities of councillors.
It will also look at the current
composition of the council as
regards age, gender, disability
and ethnic group compared to the
population.
The last major review was in
2000.
People who want to give their
views in writing or give evidence
at the hearing should write by
June 5 to: The Chair, The Independent
Remuneration Panel, c/o The
Chief executive's department,
Hampshire County Council, The
Castle,Winchester SO23 8UJ or email Irp@hants.gov.uk.
Nobody forces Cllr Sam Payne to do the job as a councillor, if she is not happy doing so and moaning about it, how about getting a real full time job.....
Nobody forces Cllr Sam Payne to do the job as a councillor, if she is not happy doing so and moaning about it, how about getting a real full time job.....
Posted by: Carlos Tilbury, overton on 10:45am Sat 10 May 08
its a double edged sword, it would be good to encourage more young people to be cllrs's but most have to work full time, but it is a choice to become one and you know that alot of hours have to be put in, lets not forget that HCC spent £141,000 on bottle water last year!
its a double edged sword, it would be good to encourage more young people to be cllrs's but most have to work full time, but it is a choice to become one and you know that alot of hours have to be put in, lets not forget that HCC spent £141,000 on bottle water last year!
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