Friday, December 5

Wrong time for big "pay" rise

You might expect us to start foaming at the mouth at the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel review of councillors' allowances for the next financial year to be considered Monday's full council meeting - which proposes some enormous increases.
However the panel is independent and it points out that the allowance is the lowest in Lincolnshire and that the gap with other authorities has grown over the years.
But, whatever a councillor's service may be worth, it seems daft to talk about increases of such magnitude at a time of real hardship and recession, and also when the council is grubbing around to make savings of far less than the total it would take to bring allowances up to date.
At any time a rise of 72.5% for the leader - from £6,487 to £11,193 - and 56.8% for all members ... from £2,378 to 3,731 ... would generate a deep intake of breath.
But in the present desperate climate, it could not be justified.
Sensibly, the council rejected big increases last year, and we hope that they will do so again this time around.
How about this for an idea?
Pay the BBI by results - then they wouldn't cost us a penny.
Now there's a thought!

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