Some council leaders now receive up to £65,000 per annum and, for being an executive member, the average in London is about £30,000. To keep the backbenchers happy so-called 'Special Responsibility Allowances' now have to be paid for all sorts of minor, functionary positions: £2,500 for being vice-chair of the Trees and Cemeteries Scrutiny Committee or for turning up at a Licensing Committee once a year. In short big money for local politicians. The danger of this, of course, is leaders now win or lost their positions on the strength of who they had promised well paid jobs to. And I fear getting to form an administration in local government has more to do with how all the allowances are distributed than which councillor is best for which job.
I don't have to justify what I earn. Councillors are worth every penny they earn. I'm not interested in this tittle tattle.He also told the Hendon Times this
We have to look at allowances every four years and have done what 20 other councils have done. They recognise the changing role of the executive and services provided.
The cabinet is getting nothing like its entitled to according to Sir Rodney Brook (report author). I will take the money I'm entitled to. No more, no less.This is the same man who, to quote his New Statesman article said
The repeal of the 2000 Local Government Act, the ending of executive powers for councillors and a return to proper, accountable, local democracy would be a first step to ensuring that service rather than salary was the driving force for Local Councillors.
Political service should be a calling not a career!
Mr Coleman knows exactly what is wrong with the system. Sadly, rather than setting a good example, he uses the very tools he knows to be wrong, for his own twisted ends. I can see no greater reason for sacking him than his own words. David Cameron should summon him, read him his own words and then strip him of the Tory whip for causing such a great embarrassment.
Maybe it is as someone has commented already - Mr Coleman knows he is on the way out, and just wants to trouser as much as he possibly can, while he still has the opportunity.
ReplyDeleteHe needs to be prepared for a review of his subsidised housing as well.
According to today's Evening Standard, Our Bri' is only the second highest-paid councillor in the country.
ReplyDeleteIt says:
Tory Brian Coleman is understood to be the second highest paid councillor, on £118,499 a year. He gets £38,177 as a Barnet councillor and cabinet member — up from about £27,000 last year — plus £53,439 for sitting in the Assembly and £26,883 as chairman of London's fire service. He waived £7,200 of his Barnet allowance this year.
Mr Coleman said: “I work about 100 hours a week and have had three days off since Christmas. I'm not pleading some special case, just saying that ... these salaries are not unreasonable.
“Some politicians are doing themselves into an early grave because of the pressure and the hassle.”
I suppose we, the public, are the hassle.
100 hours a week? Brian, you need to join a union, my dear, and get better terms and conditions.
ReplyDelete