Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
15 February 2011
09:4892701I have just read an article in todays Daily Mail and have been listening to Radio Kent .Before you all get posting Most councillors on DDC receive just over £4,000 a year which you pay tax on.If you are on the cabinet or chair a committee you receive an additional allowance .
It is true what the Councillor from Thanet has just stated we have not received an increase for the past three years .Here in Dover we are going to have a pay cut this year.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
15 February 2011
10:5092713Although councillors very often get it in the neck as all the rest of us look around for someone to blame on this or that. But I guess they are ordinary guys and gals who stick their head over the parapet and try to serve the community...so with that in mind they are worth the rather paltry amount of money.
Anyone who tries to serve the community and some of us dont get paid at all...are nevertheless re-assured in the knowledge that we are part of David Camerons Big Society...That makes us feel so much better !!
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
15 February 2011
10:5692714Yes Paul thats it the big society .I gave eighteen years on the Management Committee of Age Concern ,and ten years on St Radigunds as a Governor of the school both unpaid roles.I still had my council work as well .I think being Vice Chairman of the Council is now a little acknowledgement for my work in the community others might think differently.
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
15 February 2011
14:0892733sue
im sure you dont want an answer to that last post????lol
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
15 February 2011
14:1892736Keith's back!!!!
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
15 February 2011
14:2292737ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
15 February 2011
15:5292743Welcome back old son, I have missed you.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
15 February 2011
16:4592753ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
16 February 2011
09:0692816I read the article and was shocked,why according to the Mail our pay had risen over 80% in 5 years but being a Cllr for 4 years have not had a rise,or only little.The reason is simple when the Council went onto the Cabinet system 5 years ago that is when the increse happened.
Our pay has been frozen for 3 years and next year the proposal is to reduce it by 10% +, on cllr alowances,funnily enough although Sue as Vice Chairman and the Chairman allowances are not included in that because they are dealt with differently,and at Scruity last night the Cabinet Members who were there were a little afraid who was going to have to tell our Susan. There was some comment about Sue having to cut down on hats!
Seriously we had our third meeting at Scruity last night and finished at 10pm,and we have got to go back tonight. On the budget we discussed the reason why the Council is cutting money from things like CAB Vista Leisure and CCTV.They are also cutting back on the Dog warden Service which I have dealt with on another section.We heard about consultation with these people and then we got a shock,the CAB had a meeting the previous day as thier consultation on a cut of £20,000 which if it goes through will mean the end of the CAB in Deal unless a free venue can be found or the Council has a change of heart.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
16 February 2011
09:3992820I suppose the last posting from my old chum needs an explanation.Yes I do get an allowance £1,100O which Im taxed on. .I attend functions and more often or not I buy my own refreshments ,programme raffle tickets etc .I also send donations to organisations .
The hats usually my daughter gives me some money towards these .I have clothes over ten years old in my wardrobe not the throw away society .
Im not rich on my allowance .
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
16 February 2011
10:1792826what surprised me in the report was that the average allowance across the country is £6000, quite a bit more than our councillors get.
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
16 February 2011
12:0592834Howard in some areas they are full time,I noticed in London and the major cities the rates they get are livable allowances,when you add in all the other committee and agencies we are on as well.Many Cllrs also donate money to good causes as well,there are several in my ward that have benefitted.
Of course I spent 4 years on the Town Council where we didn't get a penny and were expected to attend many events and had to pay for most of them.If you want to make a fortune don't stand for Council.Seriously some of the Cllr are retired and of course the payment helps.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
16 February 2011
12:1792836i think they get about £.450 a year now at town council, not all claim it though.
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
16 February 2011
12:2292839At times I have been offered overtime at work and have turned it down to attend Council meetings,although because I work in my real job it is difficult to change my hours at work,I do miss some meetings.
The other way of looking at it is if you made Cllrs take a small wage then some people could not stand for Council.I couldn't afford to give up my job,wife and dog to keep! so you would alianate some people and then wouldn't give you a fair reflection on society.
Just my thoughts.
ps in the last 2 weeks I will have had 6 meetings at Council.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
16 February 2011
12:3492844You do not have to justify Council allowances to me John.
I know exactly what you and the others have to give up for it.
To those who hark back to the old days before allowances, expectation and commitment levels were a lot lower then.
I left DDC in 1995 and, being self-employed, my income went up by over 50% in the 12 months following. The allowances compensated a lot less than the income I lost even when I was a committee chairman.
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
16 February 2011
14:1392859It is unusual that we agree on something Barry,I know I don't have to justify the allowances to you or anybody else that has been a Cllr,but there are some people who are horrified that we get an allowance.Yet these people have no idea what Cllr do and of course there are Councillors and Councillors,there are some people in the Council chamber and this is not political who have never or very rarely spoken in the 4 years since I have been there.
Some are brilliant speakers and Cllr Watkins Cllr Collor Cllr Eddy and Cllr Cowan come to mind,some are passionate some are quiet but work quietly and do not make the headlines,but I think that being a Cllr is a dying trade,so much for the Big Society.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
16 February 2011
17:0592870But those who dont speak may be excellent behind the scenes looking after constituents. It takes all types and quite rigthly so. Some may well be no good, there are always good and bad in everything and that is across the political spectrum.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
16 February 2011
17:2192876I admire the dedication of anyone who becomes an effective councillor and I believe that the allowances they receive are peanuts for bearing the responsibility placed upon them. Keep up the good work.
I would say, however, that party-political bickering, whether it be across the council chamber, in the press or on the forum, is undignified, unnecessary and demeaning. Putting each other down is never going to be the way forward. To politicians who rubbish the Big Society without understanding what it means, I say: Shut up, try to understand it and give it a chance.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
16 February 2011
18:4592881any new untested proposal should have attention drawn to it, open discussion usually brings out the practicalities of a scheme.
the "big society" is no different to the "third way". nobody ever clearly explained the latter.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
16 February 2011
20:2492892There was plenty of explanation available in 1997 as to what the Third Way represented. There is, and will be, plenty about what BS is. It is up to you, if you are interested, to seek out the various information sources and make your own mind up. Please don't be lazy and rely on tabloid headlines for your opinions. Also remember that local government officials and politicians often have a different axe to grind and are not impartial.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
