1976_Child Posted 8 May, 2011 Share Posted 8 May, 2011 Got to say, with inflation running at 5% + (in reality, not some massaged government measure) I would be well p!ssed off too if I was told my pay was going to be cut by 5%. I bet the councilors and senior managers aren't getting a pay cut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 8 May, 2011 Share Posted 8 May, 2011 Councillors don't get paid a salary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1976_Child Posted 8 May, 2011 Author Share Posted 8 May, 2011 (edited) Councillors don't get paid a salary. Wrong. They do. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2001/oct/19/modlocalgov.localgovernment http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23758431-councillors-20-percent-pay-rise-in-three-years.do http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1357034/Councillors-payouts-soared-local-services-face-savage-cuts.html and specifically to Southampton: http://conservativehome.blogs.com/localgovernment/2009/11/southampton-councillors-pay-freeze.html Edited 8 May, 2011 by 1976_Child Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 8 May, 2011 Share Posted 8 May, 2011 Wrong. They do. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2001/oct/19/modlocalgov.localgovernment http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23758431-councillors-20-percent-pay-rise-in-three-years.do http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1357034/Councillors-payouts-soared-local-services-face-savage-cuts.html and specifically to Southampton: http://conservativehome.blogs.com/localgovernment/2009/11/southampton-councillors-pay-freeze.html And, if you read each of those links, you'll see that, underneath the sensationalist headlines, the articles are actually referring to ALLOWANCES. That's not the same as pay. Many people who become councillors give up a lot of time to do so. They also have to travel a fair bit about the business of the council. If there weren't allowances then becoming a councillor would only be possible to the independently wealthy - something none of us would want, I suggest. However, I'm being pedantic because I don't think the allowances should rise at all - just wanted to correct the impression that councillors receive salaries Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1976_Child Posted 8 May, 2011 Author Share Posted 8 May, 2011 And, if you read each of those links, you'll see that, underneath the sensationalist headlines, the articles are actually referring to ALLOWANCES. That's not the same as pay. Many people who become councillors give up a lot of time to do so. They also have to travel a fair bit about the business of the council. If there weren't allowances then becoming a councillor would only be possible to the independently wealthy - something none of us would want, I suggest. However, I'm being pedantic because I don't think the allowances should rise at all - just wanted to correct the impression that councillors receive salaries They get 'allowances' and a time-spent rebate. In some circumstances a leader of the council (councillor) will work full time on council business and will be paid a commensurate amount that he/she could earn in other work. The 'pay' goes through pay-roll, is taxed and NI taken out. So saying it is not actually pay is, well, pedantic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 8 May, 2011 Share Posted 8 May, 2011 They get 'allowances' and a time-spent rebate. In some circumstances a leader of the council (councillor) will work full time on council business and will be paid a commensurate amount that he/she could earn in other work. The 'pay' goes through pay-roll, is taxed and NI taken out. So saying it is not actually pay is, well, pedantic! All allowances are taxed and subject to NI. My mileage allowance used to be taxed for example. That doesn't mean it was my salary. The average councillor claims something between £4K - £12K pa in expenses / allowances. If you want a council comprising elderly wealthy men and women then by all means do away with the allowances. If, however, you want a council made up of people like you and me, who work for a living and have families to care for then you must expect them to be NOT out of pocket. A friend of mine has just, this week, been elected as a (Tory) councillor. He has 3 children and is a self-employed builder. If he takes his council work seriously, he will have to attend lots of committee meetings as well as full council meetings, hold surgeries, visit the local electorate etc. Undoubtedly his business and, to some extent, his family will bear the brunt. Even though he's a Tory, I don't begrudge him one penny of his allowance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badgerx16 Posted 8 May, 2011 Share Posted 8 May, 2011 Out of interest, what exactly has Southampton council proposed to it's staff as changes to T's&C's & pay due to the budget cuts ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1976_Child Posted 8 May, 2011 Author Share Posted 8 May, 2011 for the record, I believe that councillors should be paid a proper salary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctoroncall Posted 9 May, 2011 Share Posted 9 May, 2011 I was a Parish Councillor a few years back, now that was a thankless task! And no, I didn't get paid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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