| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Pelagia |
Posted - 08/08/2007 : 08:10:49
Haven't got time to comment on this as I am on my way to the coal face and am late as usual, but here is the link. Would be interested in any comments!
http://www.theargus.co.uk/display.var.1601191.0.councillors_expenses_top_800_000_for_a_year.php |
| 29 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| long time no see |
Posted - 09/08/2007 : 01:02:51
quote:
Originally posted by Control Panel
Of course Greggs' tea is Stodge. You can stand your spoon up in it!
Tetley Tea
you Plonka.
Yet again
OFF TOPIC
FACT. |
| Miriam Binder |
Posted - 08/08/2007 : 22:51:35
Stewed stodge at its finest! |
| Control Panel |
Posted - 08/08/2007 : 21:32:56
posted by the eminent long time no see
quote:
Stodge?
Cup Of Tea?
You Plonka.
Off Topic
Yet Again.
Of course Greggs' tea is Stodge. You can stand your spoon up in it! |
| Miriam Binder |
Posted - 08/08/2007 : 21:09:08
I am absolutely astounded by the sheer chutzpah of that Burgess creature. He raked in a nice little total of £38,127.42 and then he had the sheer audacity to claim £163.05 for travel and subsistence ... |
| Daveb |
Posted - 08/08/2007 : 20:28:15
From the items posted on this thread it only endorses my theory that being a councillor is now a career.
They will move party to protect their income and really do not give a damn about the voters who elect them.
It also opens doors to other lucrative commitees .....like SEEDA. |
| long time no see |
Posted - 08/08/2007 : 20:22:24
quote:
Originally posted by Control Panel
On Topic. FACT.
A long walk and back makes for a sharp mind to post comments about Councillors' expenses/pay.
Works off the Greggs stodge.
Stodge?
Cup Of Tea?
You Plonka.
Off Topic
Yet Again.
|
| Control Panel |
Posted - 08/08/2007 : 20:18:31
On Topic. FACT.
A long walk and back makes for a sharp mind to post comments about Councillors' expenses/pay.
Works off the Greggs stodge.
|
| long time no see |
Posted - 08/08/2007 : 20:05:34
quote:
Originally posted by Control Panel
Perhaps if LTNS walks to that Truffles in Shoreham it will clear his head.
Off Topic
FACT. |
| Control Panel |
Posted - 08/08/2007 : 19:56:15
LTNS is so bang on sated upon Greggs pasties that he has not noticed my explanation - above - that I pressed the wrong button and the Greggs posting went onto this topic. It is also now on the Greggs one, where it can be savoured with all the joy of a tuna and mayo baguette.
Perhaps if LTNS walks to that Truffles in Shoreham it will clear his head. |
| long time no see |
Posted - 08/08/2007 : 19:33:27
quote:
Originally posted by Pelagia
quote:
Originally posted by Control Panel
Greggs have caused even more controversy up at the Edinburgh Festival. There they have supplied special cakes - Fringe cakes - for ticket-office staff, and other workers are jealous. Some might say that these got off lucky by missing out...
No news whether any supplies will be available, at a premium, as a means of regenerating London Road, Brighton.
http://living.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=933&id=1199202007
OFF TOPIC
FACT
Bang On Right
Pel. |
| Captain Hawkeye |
Posted - 08/08/2007 : 18:35:54
Thanks to Vince Meegan for this insight into being a councillor. |
| Vince Meegan |
Posted - 08/08/2007 : 17:36:45
One thing none of the correspondents has remarked upon is the timing of meetings. As a councillor I had to attend Licensing hearings at 10am and 1pm. Most committee meetings start at 5pm and others, such as Licensing and Full Council commenced at 3pm and 4pm respectively. Most meetings lasted around two hours but Full Council could linger on until well after 9pm.
These meetings, coupled with local branch, constituency and city-wide political meetings, residents associations and school meetings, not to mention surgeries and visiting residents combine to make a very full diary.
Luckily I have a highly specialised day job and indulgent tolerant employers who allowed me the flexibility to attend these meetings. I am at a loss to know how it is possible for anyone in an 'ordinary' 9 to 5 job to be a councillor. On reflection, I'm not. It isn't possible. The result is that we do not get a fair cross section of the community.
Nonetheless on many occasions I was obliged to set out to work at 3am to get to a job, complete it and and be back home in time to make a 5pm meeting. As I say, I was lucky to be able to do that.
Most councillors are self employed, retired, or working in the public sector. I cannot think of any other councillors on Brighton and Hove City Council who were then currently employees in the private sector. There may have been some, but right now I cannot think of any!
The 'expenses' have gone up considerably in recent years. When I was first elected in 2001 they were around £2800 a year, perhaps a little less. There is no way that sum reflected a fair wage for the hours and inconvenience. That said, I didn't seek election for the money, though it was an 'issue' for those who had no other source of income.
Being an ordinary councillor is rewarding in many ways, - I enjoyed it immensely,- but not financially.
In the end you get what you pay for, as in much else in life. |
| Miriam Binder |
Posted - 08/08/2007 : 16:58:47
Moon, get real ... childcare is not an issue, should not be an issue and will not be an issue. Especially in a local authority where the majority or local residents struggle with childcare issues on a daily basis. |
| moon23 |
Posted - 08/08/2007 : 16:42:37
quote:
Originally posted by Miriam Binder
Government schemes are funded by taxpayers, some of whom may well be local but it doesn't come out of local authoritiy funding.
I see the point you are making but I don't see why any such scheme couldn't be administered from central treasury funds. Not all the council's money comes from local council tax anyway.
You could always raise the money by employing a private company to inforce fines for minor legal infringements. Say if NCP were to diversfy into waste management
|
| Miriam Binder |
Posted - 08/08/2007 : 16:18:57
or a plate of biscuits costing £9.00 from Kings House catering dept. |
| Pelagia |
Posted - 08/08/2007 : 16:15:11
Hmm, pasties and tea as opposed to cheap wine and twiglets. What a choice! |
| Control Panel |
Posted - 08/08/2007 : 15:51:37
I pressed the wrong key and got this topic - BUT it has brought the interesting speculation about Greggs taking over the Council catering dept. |
| Pelagia |
Posted - 08/08/2007 : 15:45:11
quote:
Originally posted by Control Panel
Greggs have caused even more controversy up at the Edinburgh Festival. There they have supplied special cakes - Fringe cakes - for ticket-office staff, and other workers are jealous. Some might say that these got off lucky by missing out...
No news whether any supplies will be available, at a premium, as a means of regenerating London Road, Brighton.
http://living.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=933&id=1199202007
OFF TOPIC
FACT
|
| Miriam Binder |
Posted - 08/08/2007 : 13:17:17
Government schemes are funded by taxpayers, some of whom may well be local but it doesn't come out of local authoritiy funding. |
| moon23 |
Posted - 08/08/2007 : 13:10:14
quote:
Originally posted by Miriam Binder
And why should the child care costs come from the local tax payers? There are plenty of central government schemes to help with childcare costs.
Government schemes are still funded by local tax payers. I just think there should be special child care provision for governmental workers who have to work late in the evening such as councillors and MPs. |
| Miriam Binder |
Posted - 08/08/2007 : 12:45:09
And why should the child care costs come from the local tax payers? There are plenty of central government schemes to help with childcare costs. |
| moon23 |
Posted - 08/08/2007 : 12:34:42
quote:
Originally posted by Miriam Binder
quote:
Originally posted by moon23
If you didn't pay councillors money then only the rich could afford to do the civil role.
Pay them the averege wage of people who work in the city for the hours they work, that seems fair. With and additional allowance for councillors who have to support families and will have child care costs etc.
Child care costs? Are we employing the family or have we elected a councillor? Child care costs should only ever be payable where the sole carer/parent or the children is employed. When there is an additional carer/parent in the home why should child care costs be payable?
Firstly many families cannot survive to pay the rent and bills if only one partner is working.
Secondly because many council meetings are in the evening which is outside of the times at which children are at school or in a Nursery.
Many bust parents would feel they haven’t the time to be a councilor so society should help these people stand and represent the community.
|
| Miriam Binder |
Posted - 08/08/2007 : 12:25:38
quote:
Originally posted by moon23
If you didn't pay councillors money then only the rich could afford to do the civil role.
Pay them the averege wage of people who work in the city for the hours they work, that seems fair. With and additional allowance for councillors who have to support families and will have child care costs etc.
Child care costs? Are we employing the family or have we elected a councillor? Child care costs should only ever be payable where the sole carer/parent or the children is employed. When there is an additional carer/parent in the home why should child care costs be payable? |
| Infinite Poppadum |
Posted - 08/08/2007 : 11:57:27
It would be a recipe for disaster if Greggs took over the Council's catering. After a few pasties and some of the 75p swill, their judgment would be so awry that it would be as though the whole place is being run by LTNS. What a terrible vision. |
| moon23 |
Posted - 08/08/2007 : 11:50:05
Maybe the council should do a deal with Greggs to supply the catering. Their cheap 75p tea would save the city money. |
| Control Panel |
Posted - 08/08/2007 : 11:44:39
Greggs have caused even more controversy up at the Edinburgh Festival. There they have supplied special cakes - Fringe cakes - for ticket-office staff, and other workers are jealous. Some might say that these got off lucky by missing out...
No news whether any supplies will be available, at a premium, as a means of regenerating London Road, Brighton.
http://living.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=933&id=1199202007 |
| Miriam Binder |
Posted - 08/08/2007 : 10:41:45
No issue with a basic allowance and there is no reason why a councillor should be out of pocket so reimbursement of expenses is perfectly reasonable however some of the allowances seem excessive to me. |
| Control Panel |
Posted - 08/08/2007 : 10:39:04
Some councillors get selfish residents going on and on, at all hours, by telephone as if they were being paid therapists' rates. The amount of paperwork also takes up a lot of time. There are fewer councillors than before, and so the basic rate is reasonable. If any residents think they can do it competently for less, then they are free to stand for the job and give away the money. |
| moon23 |
Posted - 08/08/2007 : 10:16:42
If you didn't pay councillors money then only the rich could afford to do the civil role.
Pay them the averege wage of people who work in the city for the hours they work, that seems fair. With and additional allowance for councillors who have to support families and will have child care costs etc. |
