Durham County Council defends £12,000 'clothing' allowance to chair and vice chair

7:30am Saturday 2nd March 2013 in News Photograph of the Author Exclusive By Stuart Arnold

Chairwoman of Durham County Council, Linda Marshall Chairwoman of Durham County Council, Linda Marshall

The North-East's largest council has come under fire for refusing to scrap  a  £12,000-a-year “clothing allowance” shared by its chairwoman and vice chairwoman

Critics have called on Durham County Council to axe the perk, pointing out  the cash - more than some people have to live on a year - could be better used to fund vital services.

The row over the allowance comes as the Labour-controlled authority is having to made huge cuts – more than £200m by 2018 – and is shedding 1,600 jobs.

Current chairwoman Councillor Linda Marshall receives a £13,300 basic allowance paid to all councillors, a special responsibility allowance of £6,650 – and a clothing allowance of £8,580.

The vice-chairwoman Pauline Charlton receives the basic allowance, a special responsibility allowance of £3,325 and a clothing allowance of £4,280.

Kevin Rowan, regional secretary of the TUC, said: “Everybody knows the financial pressures that councils are under and trade unions have encouraged councillors to take decisions that prioritise protecting services and jobs.

“Councillors need to take the lead by making sure that there aren’t any unjustifiable allowances or other perks that they receive.

“Durham County Council workers and tax payers will look at this and find it a bit unnecessary.”

Councillor Mark Wilkes, a Liberal Democrat councillor representing Framwellgate Moor, said: “You can find a reasonably priced suit for a man or woman for about £100.

“So the £12,000 plus that is paid to councillors Marshall and Charlton would pay for the equivalent of 120 suits.

“We should scrap this waste.

“Labour are fleecing Durham residents and opposition councillors and we have had enough of them trying to pull the wool over our eyes."

Deputy leader Alan Napier, the council’s cabinet portfolio holder for resources, said that the allowance had been in place for nearly 30 years.

He said: “[It] covers all expenses associated with being the chairman and is not solely a clothing allowance.”

He added that the chairwoman had very important civic responsibilities and was bound to incur “significant expenses” and that the workload had increased significantly since the council became a unitary authority in 2009.

He added that most council chairmen received expenses of this nature.

However, Nigel Martin, the council's Liberal Democrat leader,  said money saved by axing the clothing allowance could used to part-fund the county's Citizens Advice Bureaux which are having their funding contributions cut.

“We don’t believe there should be an enormous allowance like this for clothing," he said.

“£8,580, let alone £12,000, is more than a pensioner gets to live on during the course of a year.”

Council tax payer John Marshall (no relation), who lives in Shildon, contacted The Northern Echo to complain about the allowance.

He said: “I think this is a ludicrous amount for clothing and something should be done about it.”

Coun Marshall, who represents Chester-le-Street West for Labour, did not respond to calls to her County Hall office.

The councillor, who lives in Craghead, near Stanley, was previously vice-chairwoman and took over the post in April last year.

Her colleague – the current vice-chairwoman – Coun Charlton said: “I don’t think it is my place to comment.”

A spokesman for North Yorkshire County Council, which also has a chairman and vice-chair, said: “We don’t pay any additional sums beyond [the] special responsibility allowance.”

Hartlepool and Middlesbrough councils also confirmed that while special responsibility allowances are paid to its chairmen, no additional allowances are paid.

Meanwhile, Surrey County Council, which previously paid a clothing allowance to its chair and vice chair, scrapped the payments three years ago.

Comments(136)

Alfie24 says...
7:54am Sat 2 Mar 13

You would think with that allowance she wouldn't look so scruffy.. A cut n blow dry wouldn't go a miss either

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Better bishop says...
8:18am Sat 2 Mar 13

Durham county council is one of the largest councils in the country. If your a full time councillor earning 13,300 per year ( before tax) then after paying mortgage, utility and food you don't have much left over. If the chairman attends events throughout the country then we need them to look there best and not like a bag lady like our MP in bishop Auckland!!!

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Davy Crocket says...
8:39am Sat 2 Mar 13

A weight watchers allowance might be more appropriate. There should be a Fat tax in this country.

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st-george1 says...
9:02am Sat 2 Mar 13

… I’ll bet It will say it on their headstone … IT WAS GOOD WHILE IT LASTED …
It really looks like this unique and elitist Labour Group have been fleecing Durham’s taxpayers with this £240 PER WEEK equivalent allowance for clothing these two people, hollywood-style and only creates the impression that there’s something much more unacceptable going on … evidence that Labour ain’t interested in improving the quality of life for the rest of us when votes are assured free and it makes one want to weep !

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joedarlo45 says...
9:12am Sat 2 Mar 13

So the majority of Councils do not pay a clothing allowance.....but Durham does, and we assume its index linked and probably been voted in by the councillors themselves at some stage.....time to scrap it..NOW

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the-big-yin says...
9:20am Sat 2 Mar 13

As usual the d.c.c. super elite councilors "b.u.l.l.s.h.i.t. crew " should i say, are riding the gravy train. This needs to stop. So what if it has been paid for the last 30 years. Get this waste stopped. If i go to any meeting or party i pay for my own clothes out of my own pocket and not from tax payers cash.
This is only the tip of the iceberg. All councilors perks need to stop. I.e. free taxis, free food, free drink, free clothes , free internet, free mobile phones etc etc etc. No wonder you have these thieves working for the council. Yes i said " thieves " because that is what all councilors are. """ Also """ if any of you councilors want to take me to court for calling you a thief then please feel free, as i will then request in front of the magistrate or judge all documents from the council that shows all your allowances and perks and what interest you have when companies are applying for planning permission. SO STOP THE RIDE ON THE GRAVY TRAIN.

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JonYou says...
9:25am Sat 2 Mar 13

It is time Durham County Council was given the boot. That would leave the taxpayer with a lot mor money in their pockets instead of struggling to pay their way. Time for change.

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Mod says...
9:33am Sat 2 Mar 13

Last night's Evening Chronicle published a table showing the allowances of all the Council Leaders in the Northeast.
Guess who came "top of the league" -- That's right, Durham County Council

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the-big-yin says...
10:07am Sat 2 Mar 13

Mod wrote:
Last night's Evening Chronicle published a table showing the allowances of all the Council Leaders in the Northeast.
Guess who came "top of the league" -- That's right, Durham County Council
In the words of Cilla Black...

"""" Surprise Surprise """"

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Edmondsley says...
10:11am Sat 2 Mar 13

The chairperson arrived at our Jubilee beacon lighting in a chauffer driven car. Wouls she have paid for that from her expenses as suggested by Alan Napier?

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argo2013 says...
10:33am Sat 2 Mar 13

How about mp's leading by example and send back their expenses.

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Graeme_r says...
10:57am Sat 2 Mar 13

Better bishop wrote:
Durham county council is one of the largest councils in the country. If your a full time councillor earning 13,300 per year ( before tax) then after paying mortgage, utility and food you don't have much left over. If the chairman attends events throughout the country then we need them to look there best and not like a bag lady like our MP in bishop Auckland!!!
Councillors are not paid salaries, they are paid allowances and are expected to fit in their duties with their full time or part time jobs if they are not retired. And why do they need to be attending events all over the country? They should be serving the people who live in their wards and in County Durham.

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sherburn says...
10:59am Sat 2 Mar 13

Labour you have lost my vote you bunch of fools wake up will you how about fix the pot holes you potty lot

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mark.wilkinson says...
11:26am Sat 2 Mar 13

Is it any wonder Councils and Councillors are held in such high regard by people!....

They may as well stick two fingers up to the rest of us while they're at it.

More pigs with their dirty snouts in the trough that is public money.

Disgusting.

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jsrace says...
1:06pm Sat 2 Mar 13

F.A.O. The cradle to grave Labour voters.

Labour councils rely on voters who have been brainwashed from childhood, So they can rip the tax payer off time and again and don't care what anyone thinks because their arrogance tells them the North East voter sees no alternative to Labour, so they go on and on blatantly holding the voters in contempt with regards to public opinion.

They see you as the great unwashed who knows no better, and not capable of making decisions! In other words they regard you as just idiots.

Just recently how many times has it come to light that opposition to certain things within D.C.C. Has just been brushed aside without a single thought for what the people say or protest about?

The subject story is plain and simply a case of theft, and no matter how many thinly disguised die hard Labour voters/Council members on here try and say anything to the contrary! It is theft and nothing but theft.

The message is: If You vote Labour because your Parents and their Parents were Labour voters? Then you deserve everything you get.

Ex Labour voter.

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pager11 says...
1:46pm Sat 2 Mar 13

Typical labour council..... whats yours is mine, always has been with the labour party.

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Jolly Roger says...
2:20pm Sat 2 Mar 13

All I am saying is in May after the elections I hope Labour is not in control of Durham.

If there are don't shout about what they are doing over the next four years as they have been voted in by those who have SHORT memories on how they are fleecing us one way or other.

One time it was an honour to be a councillor not any more - all they want is how much can we get out of it.

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Edmondsley says...
2:27pm Sat 2 Mar 13

If a councillor incurs "significant expenses "by all means claim them by submitting receipts.Then we can all see how the money is spent.

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David Lacey says...
2:50pm Sat 2 Mar 13

Notice how the usual crew of lefties are keeping their heads down? We all know who they are - Mr T*rd etc - and that is because they actually approve of this theft of public money. As they approve of all the other scams that rip off decent people working hard to keep a roof over their heads. But it is no good just complaining. Votes are needed. Use yours to kick Labour out.

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Mod says...
4:20pm Sat 2 Mar 13

I will wager the entire UK's gold reserves that Labour are returned to power at the next council elections in Durham, although if memory serves well Labour lost the gold reserves also.

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jsrace says...
4:37pm Sat 2 Mar 13

local Elections, 2013
I for one will not be voting Labour! Who I will vote for is not yet apparent, but I will vote for the first candidate who promises to go through the D.C.C. Offices with a fine tooth comb and weed out the Jobsworths' Financial Wasters and the ones who can be described as public fund plunderers, and get rid of them due to neglect of duty' Theft or for not being capable of doing their jobs.

That alone should make sure the excuse of having to spend too much public finances on redundancies or Tribunal cases is not a vialid excuse! In fact there should prosecutions a plenty when it all comes to light.

That could mean 90% of them would be kicked off the Gravy train and made to find a real job where they would be shocked at the prospect of having to perform for a wage.

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argo2013 says...
4:57pm Sat 2 Mar 13

Look at the article about Eric Pickles dept spending,in today's sun ,is there any difference in the attitude to spending between them and d.c.c.

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jsrace says...
5:01pm Sat 2 Mar 13

Argo
The story is about D.C.C. Not Eric Pickles or even Julius Caeser.

Two wrongs don't make a right.

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Little owl says...
5:47pm Sat 2 Mar 13

I wasnt going to comment on this, but, it beggars belief what this council gets away with I am appauled by them. They are cutting jobs and cutting pay and still they take the p--s. I hope that I live long enough to see DCC without a single labour representatative and I dont care either way who I vote for but one thing is for sure it wont be labour. Why oh why dont the people of the North East wake up and smell the coffee. This is a fantastic part of the country it has a huge amount to offer but as long as we keep on voting for greedy self centered hippocritical full of thier own self importance idiots that are the Labour party then we will always be one step behind the rest of the country. Im not articulate enough to write what I wish I could write, they want a bomb up their arse the lot of them.

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mark.wilkinson says...
6:57pm Sat 2 Mar 13

Little owl wrote:
I wasnt going to comment on this, but, it beggars belief what this council gets away with I am appauled by them. They are cutting jobs and cutting pay and still they take the p--s. I hope that I live long enough to see DCC without a single labour representatative and I dont care either way who I vote for but one thing is for sure it wont be labour. Why oh why dont the people of the North East wake up and smell the coffee. This is a fantastic part of the country it has a huge amount to offer but as long as we keep on voting for greedy self centered hippocritical full of thier own self importance idiots that are the Labour party then we will always be one step behind the rest of the country. Im not articulate enough to write what I wish I could write, they want a bomb up their arse the lot of them.
Very well put. More than that though, I think your point about this part of the country continually voting for labour is exactly right. The problem is we live in a part of the country that is so rooted in the past and can't seem to bring ourselves to realize that there are better alternatives out there to the Labour Party. Until we wake up as you put it we will always be dragged backwards. Ultimately it's up to the people of the region to change it. I fear that will never happen though because many North Eastern people still need to move into the 20th century and remember that we no longer work down pit etc. we need to be more future thinking and let go of the past. Something the Labour Party never want us to do because they themselves are old knackered dinosaurs living firmly in the bad old days.

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argo2013 says...
7:00pm Sat 2 Mar 13

jsrace, I think the two has every thing to do with each other,Eric Pickles is forever berating councils to reduce their spending at the same time his dept which oversees councils is increasing spending greatly . If he displayed the restraint he demands of councils maybe they would take notice.

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wizard from crook says...
7:00pm Sat 2 Mar 13

how does she sleep at night. oh yes with pjsssssss payed by us,god bless.if i got the chance i would leave this sorry land.
.

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argo2013 says...
7:01pm Sat 2 Mar 13

jsrace, I think the two has every thing to do with each other,Eric Pickles is forever berating councils to reduce their spending at the same time his dept which oversees councils is increasing spending greatly . If he displayed the restraint he demands of councils maybe they would take notice.

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happyguy says...
7:38pm Sat 2 Mar 13

Much as it breaks my heart i actually agree with the right wing nutters here . Some of the councillors class it as a wage and not as an expense. The meetings hours do deter working people putting up for election .The labour councillor in 1 bishop auckland ward is over 70 and can barely walk and can t walk far to deliver leaflets but thinks its thier divine right to be a councillor. Think before you vote.

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Lifetime Townie says...
7:43pm Sat 2 Mar 13

And do they qualify for a gold plated pension as well a wage??????

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victorjames says...
8:33pm Sat 2 Mar 13

Unfortunately these are the type of people that get elected, the ones who used to be prefects and milk monitors at school. The men love badges and bunchs of keys on their belt loops whilst the women councillors have a tendency to be pugilistic. However its us that votes them in, usually on a wave of apathy. The level of intellect is low at local government but more than made up for by animal cunning. We're stuck with them unless we fancy standing but it's time they had a reality check. No one subsidised my the expense of my clothes when I was working and this allowance should be stopped immediately.

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tomtopper says...
9:18pm Sat 2 Mar 13

jsrace wrote:
F.A.O. The cradle to grave Labour voters.

Labour councils rely on voters who have been brainwashed from childhood, So they can rip the tax payer off time and again and don't care what anyone thinks because their arrogance tells them the North East voter sees no alternative to Labour, so they go on and on blatantly holding the voters in contempt with regards to public opinion.

They see you as the great unwashed who knows no better, and not capable of making decisions! In other words they regard you as just idiots.

Just recently how many times has it come to light that opposition to certain things within D.C.C. Has just been brushed aside without a single thought for what the people say or protest about?

The subject story is plain and simply a case of theft, and no matter how many thinly disguised die hard Labour voters/Council members on here try and say anything to the contrary! It is theft and nothing but theft.

The message is: If You vote Labour because your Parents and their Parents were Labour voters? Then you deserve everything you get.

Ex Labour voter.
Exactly right and very well put...

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Richard Ormerod says...
9:43pm Sat 2 Mar 13

I haven't spent anywhere neat £12k on clothes in my life (I don't go out of fashion because I never went in!). Good to see Labour so in touch with how ordinary working people live!

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Richard Ormerod says...
9:49pm Sat 2 Mar 13

If, as Cllr Napier says, the allowance "covers all expenses associated with being the chairman and is not solely a clothing allowance" then what is the Special Responsibility Allowance for?

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IanfromCrook says...
10:07pm Sat 2 Mar 13

David Lacey wrote:
Notice how the usual crew of lefties are keeping their heads down? We all know who they are - Mr T*rd etc - and that is because they actually approve of this theft of public money. As they approve of all the other scams that rip off decent people working hard to keep a roof over their heads. But it is no good just complaining. Votes are needed. Use yours to kick Labour out.
Nobody in their right mind would approve of this, it makes me cringe. As for votes it is a no win situation for a lefty like me. I would like to think the majority of all people are decent honest and apt to do the right thing. I really hope that this is stopped. I do not know the councillors in question but it would put them in a slightly brighter light if they instigated the abolition of this payment.

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onedytoo says...
10:26pm Sat 2 Mar 13

If there are other GENUINE expenses not covered elsewhere, then let the chair and deputy claim them with receipts as their employees do. Cut this inexcusable 'bonus'.

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the ferry says...
12:00am Sun 3 Mar 13

As a life long Labour supporter I am dismayed and bewildered by this. Do they not know what people are going through? Disgusted.

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Graeme_r says...
12:04am Sun 3 Mar 13

Lifetime Townie wrote:
And do they qualify for a gold plated pension as well a wage??????
The answer is that in 2015, Councillors will no longer be able to contribute in the Local Government Pension scheme which are going to change to career average pensions in 2014 which means they will be of lower value than the Tesco Pension scheme which is Final Salary. Local Government Pensions are not "Gold Plated" please stop using that silly Daily Mail label. You are just doing Osborne a favour by helping his divide and conquer and race to the bottom for plebs ideology. Every one should get a decent pension from their employers. There are still final salary pension schemes in the private sector, don't be taken in by Cameron who demonstrated he can use weasel words when claiming Britain's debts were being paid down, which they are not.

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hippyjohn says...
12:34am Sun 3 Mar 13

we are actually saving money. the old adage is "all fur coat and no knickers "

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hippyjohn says...
12:49am Sun 3 Mar 13

£170 a week for clothes i am a homeowner who is unemployed at 61 years of age having worked all of my life . i receive £74 plus council tax to live on. less £6 per week for actually paying toward an occupational pension

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flaxton says...
7:02am Sun 3 Mar 13

I'm surprised the allowance is enough! "Big Top" circus tents don't come cheap nowadays.

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johnny_p says...
8:37am Sun 3 Mar 13

The comments defending these greedy, out of touch Councillors is hardly flooding in here is it? Disgraceful attitude to the people they claim to represent. I would love to get involved in a protest outside Town Hall. How can we do this?

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Davy Crocket says...
8:50am Sun 3 Mar 13

Gordon Brown sold our Gold for a plate of beans. He said there would be no more Boom and Bust. Labour ruined this country with Debt and Immigration. And now their snouts are back in the trough with their big bottoms showing.

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DavidClaremont says...
9:44am Sun 3 Mar 13

It's nice to see the council behaving with responsibility and empathy towards the common people.
They lead by example....a clothing allowance just another way of bleeding Council Tax payers white.
It shows that they don't give a hoot about the people they are supposed to represent.
Over 1200 people in DCC earning over 50 thousand a year! Plus their "allowances"

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argo2013 says...
10:13am Sun 3 Mar 13

I'll say it again Eric Pickles's dept oversees all councils,he has been trying to limit council spending ,yet his office just keeps spending more and more.Why should councils take any notice when he refuses to set an example,as for not voting labour because of this money these councillors are claiming ,i take it they will not vote for Eric Pickles's party either!

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MSG says...
10:19am Sun 3 Mar 13

The thick people of Co. Durham keep voting Labour so what do they expect. if another party was breathing down their neck then perhaps these scumbags may be more frugal !!!

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David Lacey says...
10:26am Sun 3 Mar 13

The North East is bottom of every socio economic indicator. Unemployment, health, crime, income etc etc etc. And is is filled wall to wall with Labour politicians. Coincidence? I don't think so!

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mark.wilkinson says...
10:46am Sun 3 Mar 13

David Lacey wrote:
The North East is bottom of every socio economic indicator. Unemployment, health, crime, income etc etc etc. And is is filled wall to wall with Labour politicians. Coincidence? I don't think so!
You've hit the nail squarely on the head there.

The North East is bottom of the pile for many reasons, not least because its people are stuck in the past. You reap what you sew.

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johnny_p says...
10:50am Sun 3 Mar 13

I'd like to bet that this story and it's comments soon mysteriously disappear from the Echo website- it just doesn't suit their "everything Labour is wonderful" outlook...

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argo2013 says...
10:53am Sun 3 Mar 13

You can be certain that the present government will not be doing anything to help the north east wile people continue to vote labour,it was called blackmail once upon a time,that's where the connection is.Now when is someone is going to comment on my point about Eric Pickles's dept's spending not being a good example to councils to restrain their spending.

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jsrace says...
11:08am Sun 3 Mar 13

Argo

Was the Labour Chair claiming this allowance before this government came to power? You might find if you look that this and previous Labour councils have been blatantly ripping us off for quite some time regardless as to who was in number ten.

Please smell the coffee, unless that is you actually have a Dog in this fight, because the only people who could even attempt to defend this story is someone with a personal interest or a blind idiot.

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argo2013 says...
12:20pm Sun 3 Mar 13

jsrace,Eric Pickles is saying do as i say not as i do, i am not defending Durham councillors claiming this money,if you read my previous comments properly you will see that i am saying if Pickles wants councils to cut back on the money they spend and claims for expenses his dept should practise what they preach,then councils may take more notice,when he asks for restraint in their spending.

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loan_star says...
12:51pm Sun 3 Mar 13

The next time Henig complains about making cut backs, I hope the reporter asks him the question about this appalling waste of money. Typical politicians, in it for what they can get and not what they can do for the community.

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argo2013 says...
1:03pm Sun 3 Mar 13

Then Henig can say i will follow Mr Pickles example ___whenever he starts that is!!!

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jsrace says...
1:19pm Sun 3 Mar 13

argo
If Hitler had lived to face trial, His only defence could have been 'Stalin is just as bad'.
This story is not about 'Eric Pickles' , it is about the Chair and vice chair of D.C.C.

Stating that they are bad because the opposition is bad is no defence whatsoever! If you want Comments on Eric Pickles, then I am sure there are plenty of stories where you can voice an opinion , rather than trying to draw away the opinions from the subject of this story.

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the-big-yin says...
2:08pm Sun 3 Mar 13

LOOK NO MATTER WHO IS IN CHARGE OF D.C.C. THEY ALL S.H.I.T. IN THE SAME POT.
TIME FOR NORMAL DOWN TO EARTH , COMMON SENSE PEOPLE TO RUN FOR ELECTION.
THE COUNCILORS NEED TO READ THESE COMMENTS. THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES.
HOW DO THEY FACE PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARE RIPPING THIS ONCE GREAT COUNTY OFF.

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Longbowman666 says...
3:01pm Sun 3 Mar 13

The problem is, and has been for a very long time, that many Cllrs of all political persausions have used and abused the payments / allowances schemes to their adavantage. Henig and co are just the latest in a long line of them, and once they are in power they try to ensure that it stays that way, for obvious reasons.

The whole issue needs proper, independent investigation, and a shake up in the procedures / allowances etc that Cllrs can claim. At one time it was supposed to be a civic honour to serve your community as a Cllr - time to get back to this. Remember folks, they are there to serve you, not the other way around, and its time both they, and politicians in general, were reminded of this.

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argo2013 says...
3:14pm Sun 3 Mar 13

jsrace, this story is about Eric Pickles, his dept is spending money like water.If he can't exert some restraint how can he expect people directly connected to his dept to obey his directives? I am not trying to draw away the opinions from the subject of this story, you are trying to confine debate to Durham council when Mr Pickles dept is spending a lot more on themselves,and they oversee all the councils in the country but are setting a bad example to follow.

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David Lacey says...
3:53pm Sun 3 Mar 13

He doesn't get it Mr Race. As dense as a breeze block. Clearly a Labour voter.

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Mod says...
4:18pm Sun 3 Mar 13

Pickles may have already stopped any overspend once it was brought to light but, according to Durhamm County Council Deputy Leader, this allowance has been standard practice for "nearly 30 years". Kept that well hidden don't you think!

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argo2013 says...
4:45pm Sun 3 Mar 13

No you don't get it,if everybody is in it together that includes Eric Pickes et al , no exeptions i agree councils should look at cutting claims for expenses ,allowances and so on,but so should goverment depts mp's, bankers everybody,or is it some groups are above everybody else,why is so hard to understand.And i would thank you to cut out the insults just because you don't like what i say.What ever political party or anybody else should be making savings no matter who they are,especially when people who can afford it the least are being hit so hard.

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greenfinger says...
4:54pm Sun 3 Mar 13

this is a disgrace, the big fat heffer should hand her head in shame.

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Davidwillis says...
5:39pm Sun 3 Mar 13

Jolly Roger wrote:
All I am saying is in May after the elections I hope Labour is not in control of Durham.

If there are don't shout about what they are doing over the next four years as they have been voted in by those who have SHORT memories on how they are fleecing us one way or other.

One time it was an honour to be a councillor not any more - all they want is how much can we get out of it.
Sorry to disappoint you, but not much chance of anyone other than labour getting elected there. More chance of regime change in iran, Saudi Arabia and north Korea than in county Durham at next election.

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argo2013 says...
6:32pm Sun 3 Mar 13

Greenfinger, Shame on you for calling Eric such names_------naughty boy.

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mark.wilkinson says...
6:41pm Sun 3 Mar 13

Davidwillis wrote:
Jolly Roger wrote:
All I am saying is in May after the elections I hope Labour is not in control of Durham.

If there are don't shout about what they are doing over the next four years as they have been voted in by those who have SHORT memories on how they are fleecing us one way or other.

One time it was an honour to be a councillor not any more - all they want is how much can we get out of it.
Sorry to disappoint you, but not much chance of anyone other than labour getting elected there. More chance of regime change in iran, Saudi Arabia and north Korea than in county Durham at next election.
I fear you're right. Which will be a huge disaster for the region once again.

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argo2013 says...
6:55pm Sun 3 Mar 13

There there don't give in,move to a tory area and you will feel much better.

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mark.wilkinson says...
7:24pm Sun 3 Mar 13

argo2013 wrote:
There there don't give in,move to a tory area and you will feel much better.
Who said anything about the Tory's? Not me that's for sure.

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argo2013 says...
8:14pm Sun 3 Mar 13

No what i mean is after living in a tory council area,you would be thankful to come back!!!

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John Justice says...
8:42pm Sun 3 Mar 13

Actually this clothing allowance pales into insignificance compared to the free acomodation, phones, heating and lighting etc that the unions receive from Durham County Council at HQ. I am a fully paid up member of a trade union but why should I and every other taxpayer foot the bill to allow expensive freebies to unions that I believe is the equivalent of over £50,000 in taxpayers monies. Unions should pay their way, full stop.

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John Justice says...
8:42pm Sun 3 Mar 13

Actually this clothing allowance pales into insignificance compared to the free acomodation, phones, heating and lighting etc that the unions receive from Durham County Council at HQ. I am a fully paid up member of a trade union but why should I and every other taxpayer foot the bill to allow expensive freebies to unions that I believe is the equivalent of over £50,000 in taxpayers monies. Unions should pay their way, full stop.

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IanfromCrook says...
10:52pm Sun 3 Mar 13

Interesting point on the horizon. Cross party committee recommending councillor expenses to be set independently. DCC should NOT wait before doing the right thing though just stop it. Even I cannot find a council that has not abolished clothing allowances if they had them and I like looking for needles in haystacks.

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mr b 22 says...
12:01am Mon 4 Mar 13

mark.wilkinson wrote:
Is it any wonder Councils and Councillors are held in such high regard by people!....

They may as well stick two fingers up to the rest of us while they're at it.

More pigs with their dirty snouts in the trough that is public money.

Disgusting.
I'm surprised that people have just woken up to the fact that a post that was once done voluntary has become a nice little earner. It's been going on for years and yes Labour councillors are no different from any of the others apart from they are almost gauranteed to be re-elected.

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ajtib3 says...
12:24am Mon 4 Mar 13

David Lacey wrote:
The North East is bottom of every socio economic indicator. Unemployment, health, crime, income etc etc etc. And is is filled wall to wall with Labour politicians. Coincidence? I don't think so!
Interesting suggestion you put - that a Tory/Lib Dem government is being vindictive?

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The Grimm Reaper says...
8:38am Mon 4 Mar 13

If they (the chairwoman and vice chair) had any thing about them, they would give up this freebie as a sign of thier commitment .This just goes to show,as with lots of people in these postions they are in it for what they can get rather than what they can do for us (in my opinion)

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Davidwillis says...
8:54am Mon 4 Mar 13

John Justice wrote:
Actually this clothing allowance pales into insignificance compared to the free acomodation, phones, heating and lighting etc that the unions receive from Durham County Council at HQ. I am a fully paid up member of a trade union but why should I and every other taxpayer foot the bill to allow expensive freebies to unions that I believe is the equivalent of over £50,000 in taxpayers monies. Unions should pay their way, full stop.
This is a discrace, and we wouldn't know this if you hadn't mentioned. Councils clearly are spending money in the wrong places. We need more stories finding out what goes on in councils in the local press. Can we have done true investigative journalism echo please?

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David Lacey says...
10:58am Mon 4 Mar 13

David - the Council also pay for the collection of union dues via the payroll system. DCC is a Labour party fiefdom. Run by and on behalf of the Labour Party. The residents (sheeple) can go to h*ll. Their votes don't need to be counted - just weighed. No other party will ever get a look in. When it happens in the Middle East and other parts of the world we call it a dictatorship.
.
We get what we deserve. Poor services, badly delivered at huge cost whilst fat cats sit in County Hall gorging themselves with our money.
.
Labour supporters (like Mr T*rd above) are content with the situation. If it were reversed - with the Tories in permanent control, they would be screaming blue murder. When it come to the "nasty party" there is none more nasty than Labour.

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argo2013 says...
11:30am Mon 4 Mar 13

Durham has poorer services because they receive less funding than areas which are administered by the tory party, which is a form of pressure to intimidate people to change their voting habits_______very democratic,but it will not work.!!

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IanfromCrook says...
11:33am Mon 4 Mar 13

Davidwillis wrote:
John Justice wrote:
Actually this clothing allowance pales into insignificance compared to the free acomodation, phones, heating and lighting etc that the unions receive from Durham County Council at HQ. I am a fully paid up member of a trade union but why should I and every other taxpayer foot the bill to allow expensive freebies to unions that I believe is the equivalent of over £50,000 in taxpayers monies. Unions should pay their way, full stop.
This is a discrace, and we wouldn't know this if you hadn't mentioned. Councils clearly are spending money in the wrong places. We need more stories finding out what goes on in councils in the local press. Can we have done true investigative journalism echo please?
Cannot find any record of this £50000. I am guessing it is about union offices within county hall but would appreciate a little proof of this as I cannot find anything to prove or disprove this statement. As for Labour Party bashers I would say that although this allowance is abhorrent and should be abolished saying they have been thieving it for 30 years ,inferring it is only Labour councillors doing it, is wrong. A lot of councils did have this allowance, of all colours, they however have done the decent thing and knocked it on the head. The most recent one I found was Surrey that abolished it in 2010. They may all have had their noses in the trough but come on D.C.C. being last to leave is a disgrace,,,,,,get your noses out the longer you keep them there the worse it looks!!!

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David Lacey says...
12:20pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Two things - DCC gets MORE funding than so called Tory councils in the south of England (and so it should). Secondly the full cost of the facilities donated to the Labour Party by the unwitting sheeple of County Durham has been published in a Freedom of Information request. Sadly, I've lost the link when my hard drive broke, but I'm sure that it was MORE than £50K.

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loan_star says...
12:46pm Mon 4 Mar 13

ajtib3 wrote:
David Lacey wrote:
The North East is bottom of every socio economic indicator. Unemployment, health, crime, income etc etc etc. And is is filled wall to wall with Labour politicians. Coincidence? I don't think so!
Interesting suggestion you put - that a Tory/Lib Dem government is being vindictive?
Considering nothing has changed up here for years, I suggest its not just the coalition that you need to be pointing a finger at! If anything Labour should have bent over backwards to help the region when in power and yet they did very little.

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IanfromCrook says...
1:33pm Mon 4 Mar 13

David Lacey wrote:
Two things - DCC gets MORE funding than so called Tory councils in the south of England (and so it should). Secondly the full cost of the facilities donated to the Labour Party by the unwitting sheeple of County Durham has been published in a Freedom of Information request. Sadly, I've lost the link when my hard drive broke, but I'm sure that it was MORE than £50K.
Cannot find FOI about DCC relating to this cannot find info regarding the 50K. If you find the link please post it or if you cannot try to recall some details that may be an aid to finding it. Cannot even find these in the archives of the Tory press.

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argo2013 says...
1:52pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Labour councils across the country are receiving less funding it's a known fact ,lets the comparisons between councils run by different parties so we can see the diferences if you think otherwise.

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John Justice says...
2:24pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Re my comment concerning free support to unions within County Hall, I was merely repeating comments made in this newspaper reported some time ago. If memory serves me correctly it may have been a comment made by a County Hall representative but it would solve the issue if the unions and County Hall cleared up any confusion just as to what it costs the taxpayer in terms of office space, services and paid time, if any for Union reps carrying out union activities while at work.

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ace38 says...
2:27pm Mon 4 Mar 13

This is a disgrace. Durham County Council constituents should stop voting Labour. If a monkey stood for Labour it would be elected. The Labour Party complains about The Conservative Party`s austerity propramme and claims to be the party of working people, but they are always `feathering their own nests.` It is time the people of Britain wised up to these hypocrites.

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craigyboy32 says...
3:35pm Mon 4 Mar 13

johnny_p wrote:
The comments defending these greedy, out of touch Councillors is hardly flooding in here is it? Disgraceful attitude to the people they claim to represent. I would love to get involved in a protest outside Town Hall. How can we do this?
i would love to do the same here and until things like this start to happen know one is going to listen. the whole country needs to get together once and for all and stick together until it is changed, and the same with the so called bedroom tax as well, Maggie thatcher tried all this crap with the poll tax and look what happened there all,s im saying they the politicians are getting away with every thing in this country at the moment A KNOW MY NEXT VOTE IS GOING TO UKIP BECAUSE ALL THE REST OF THEM ARE UP EACH OTHERS ARSES AND IT NEEDS TO STOP AND STOP NOW

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David Lacey says...
3:39pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Tip of the iceberg!!
.
Before it was subsumed into DCC, Wear Valley DC Labour Councillors had an extra column next to their allowances, which stated “donation to the Labour Party”. The council was administering and diverting, for free of course, taxpayers’ money, at source, from their annual allowance, straight to the Labour Party. They didn't even attempt to hide it. They even argued that this was acceptable. If this practice is continuing (hard to find out) then DCC Labour Councillors are still handing over 7.2% of their allowance to the Labour Party. That’s your money and mine going straight to the Labour Party coffers.
.
Back to Union Money. They have 3 offices, plus a training room, all free of rent, heating and lighting, IT and stationery in County Hall. Additional to this, as you know, DCC administer subscriptions for free and they have about half-a-dozen taxpayer funded DCC staff working either full-time or part-time on union duties. All paid for by the council tax. Your money and mine – again.
.
And in return, a fair proportion of Labour Councillors have their election expenses paid for by the various unions (it's on their declaration of interests).
.
As an aside, the Labour Party is busy dropping leaflets through doors across parts of Bishop Auckland - the theme..."nasty cuts, the worst recession since the 1930's and the neglect of the high street - present government to blame for all"

They are utterly shameless. And we are all being ripped off.
.
The Echo once run by Harold Evans would have exposed this fraud.

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craigyboy32 says...
3:47pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Alfie24 wrote:
You would think with that allowance she wouldn't look so scruffy.. A cut n blow dry wouldn't go a miss either
I agree there alfie24 and with all this money she is getting if she spending our money on big fur coats and she still looks a mess linda marshall should be ashamed off her self and the other councilors and i think we deserve a responce from her and durham county council

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OneAlbert says...
4:40pm Mon 4 Mar 13

You get good and bad in all walks of life and in that respect councillors are no different to police officers, butchers or news reporters. If you know how much work your local councillor does and think that you can do a better job, do the decent thing - fill in a nomination form and stand for election.

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David Lacey says...
5:03pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Albert - no chance of winning unless you are a card carrying Labour party member. To get their nomination you have to toe the party line. The difference is that butchers or reporters don't use public money to fund their lifestyle. You are obviously a Labour supporter. Says it all.

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argo2013 says...
5:09pm Mon 4 Mar 13

So it is wrong for trade unions,labour councillors etc to fund the labour party,but it is ok for bankers who wrecked the economy to fund the tories,it is all right for the tories to stall on reforming the banks,could there be a connection there ,surely not maybe i'm just a cynic.

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OneAlbert says...
5:26pm Mon 4 Mar 13

David Lacey, Either join in the election process and let local democracy take its course or stop complaining when the results don't suit you. It's commonly known as "put up or shut up." You can't have it both ways.

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the-big-yin says...
5:35pm Mon 4 Mar 13

OneAlbert wrote:
You get good and bad in all walks of life and in that respect councillors are no different to police officers, butchers or news reporters. If you know how much work your local councillor does and think that you can do a better job, do the decent thing - fill in a nomination form and stand for election.
GET A GRIP !!!!! THESE LAZY BONE IDLE SO CALLED COUNCILORS ARE DOING NOTHING FOR THE AREAS THEY WERE ELECTED TO HELP....
ALL THEY ARE BOTHERED ABOUT IS BOOSTING THEIR EGOS AND THEIR POSITION IN THE " GRAVY TRAIN TROUGH "...THEY NEED TO SORT THIS FIASCO OUT...BUNCH OF THIEVES..YES ALL OF THEM... sorry about the caps button... MY P.I.S.S. IS BOILING!!!!!!

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David Lacey says...
5:43pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Albert still doen't get it. Public money is not supposed to be diverted into the bank accouunts of political parties. But that is what is happening. He is obviously a Labour supporter. If the boot was on the other foot and it was the Tories raking off public money he'd be fuming.

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OneAlbert says...
5:51pm Mon 4 Mar 13

I'm always calm and rational David. I think the current coalition does an awful lot for the wealthy, at the expense of the more needy but I have to accept the outcome of an election in which I took part. For all its faults this system is the only one we have and if we want to call ourselves a democracy we need to accept that election results can go against our personal wishes.

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ajtib3 says...
5:59pm Mon 4 Mar 13

David Lacey wrote:
Albert - no chance of winning unless you are a card carrying Labour party member. To get their nomination you have to toe the party line. The difference is that butchers or reporters don't use public money to fund their lifestyle. You are obviously a Labour supporter. Says it all.
Stand as a UKIPper - they're on the up and would give you a chance to get in even in Labour areas. You've got the qualifications - you're already a well practiced liar - you'd be standing as an MP in no time.

You could make an election pledge to decline your allowances too!!

Or would standing for council affect the nice little tax breaks you have in place?

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jsrace says...
7:19pm Mon 4 Mar 13

OK if the council supporters insist on commenting outside of the story, then I suggest everyone do a search on the internet for “Windlestone Hall sale”

I am pretty sure Criminal charges will be brought over this one.

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argo2013 says...
7:47pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Why, if they charged more for the hall,how many takers do you think they would get,the building needs several millions to renovate the place, a factor every bidder would have to consider when contemplating an offer.

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argo2013 says...
7:50pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Why, if they charged more for the hall,how many takers do you think they would get,the building needs several millions to renovate the place, a factor every bidder would have to consider when contemplating an offer.

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jsrace says...
8:16pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Who knows how many takers there would have been if the property was advertised to the general public.

Correct me if I am wrong, but is it not a legal requirement to advertise publicly owned property for sale?

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IanfromCrook says...
8:30pm Mon 4 Mar 13

David Lacey wrote:
Tip of the iceberg!!
.
Before it was subsumed into DCC, Wear Valley DC Labour Councillors had an extra column next to their allowances, which stated “donation to the Labour Party”. The council was administering and diverting, for free of course, taxpayers’ money, at source, from their annual allowance, straight to the Labour Party. They didn't even attempt to hide it. They even argued that this was acceptable. If this practice is continuing (hard to find out) then DCC Labour Councillors are still handing over 7.2% of their allowance to the Labour Party. That’s your money and mine going straight to the Labour Party coffers.
.
Back to Union Money. They have 3 offices, plus a training room, all free of rent, heating and lighting, IT and stationery in County Hall. Additional to this, as you know, DCC administer subscriptions for free and they have about half-a-dozen taxpayer funded DCC staff working either full-time or part-time on union duties. All paid for by the council tax. Your money and mine – again.
.
And in return, a fair proportion of Labour Councillors have their election expenses paid for by the various unions (it's on their declaration of interests).
.
As an aside, the Labour Party is busy dropping leaflets through doors across parts of Bishop Auckland - the theme..."nasty cuts, the worst recession since the 1930's and the neglect of the high street - present government to blame for all"

They are utterly shameless. And we are all being ripped off.
.
The Echo once run by Harold Evans would have exposed this fraud.
Bit surprised at this so did a bit of digging. All colours of councillors can directly donate and are encouraged to do so. They can donate to charity or political parties. From conservativehome website quotes "Often councillors may choose to donate more than the equivalent of 7% of their allowances to Party funds.". So sorry not just labour.
The Hall Sale mentioned by jsrace does sound dodgy though.

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argo2013 says...
8:32pm Mon 4 Mar 13

No one knows, but that was the reason for the reduced price, the high cost of renovating the building.

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argo2013 says...
8:33pm Mon 4 Mar 13

No one knows, but that was the reason for the reduced price, the high cost of renovating the building.

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cllrmarkwilkes says...
9:05pm Mon 4 Mar 13

David Lacey wrote:
Tip of the iceberg!!
.
Before it was subsumed into DCC, Wear Valley DC Labour Councillors had an extra column next to their allowances, which stated “donation to the Labour Party”. The council was administering and diverting, for free of course, taxpayers’ money, at source, from their annual allowance, straight to the Labour Party. They didn't even attempt to hide it. They even argued that this was acceptable. If this practice is continuing (hard to find out) then DCC Labour Councillors are still handing over 7.2% of their allowance to the Labour Party. That’s your money and mine going straight to the Labour Party coffers.
.
Back to Union Money. They have 3 offices, plus a training room, all free of rent, heating and lighting, IT and stationery in County Hall. Additional to this, as you know, DCC administer subscriptions for free and they have about half-a-dozen taxpayer funded DCC staff working either full-time or part-time on union duties. All paid for by the council tax. Your money and mine – again.
.
And in return, a fair proportion of Labour Councillors have their election expenses paid for by the various unions (it's on their declaration of interests).
.
As an aside, the Labour Party is busy dropping leaflets through doors across parts of Bishop Auckland - the theme..."nasty cuts, the worst recession since the 1930's and the neglect of the high street - present government to blame for all"

They are utterly shameless. And we are all being ripped off.
.
The Echo once run by Harold Evans would have exposed this fraud.
David

Just to confirm, I got confirmation a few days ago that the Labour Party is getting payroll services for free from Durham taxpayers, as well as the unions. no one else gets free payroll services.

So subscriptions are being paid across with council employees managing the system. Interestingly the Conservatives, Durham Independents, Wear Valley Independents, Lib Dems and Derwentside Independents don't do this and as far as I am aware never have on DCC

Meanwhile the council charges Primary Schools a lump sum plus £74.80 for each employee to manage their payroll services. hardly seems fair.

In addition senior staff are receiving 65p a mile in car allowances.

We tried to get these two obscenities scrapped in the budget but every labour councillor present voted against us. Most opposition councillors supported scrapping this waste as well as other waste. the problem in Durham is the Labour Party. Nearly a century of control and the county is still one of the poorest in the country. Can't blame the current government for that, it is decades of failure and waste by Labour and its comrades which is to blame.

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IanfromCrook says...
10:36pm Mon 4 Mar 13

cllrmarkwilkes wrote:
David Lacey wrote:
Tip of the iceberg!!
.
Before it was subsumed into DCC, Wear Valley DC Labour Councillors had an extra column next to their allowances, which stated “donation to the Labour Party”. The council was administering and diverting, for free of course, taxpayers’ money, at source, from their annual allowance, straight to the Labour Party. They didn't even attempt to hide it. They even argued that this was acceptable. If this practice is continuing (hard to find out) then DCC Labour Councillors are still handing over 7.2% of their allowance to the Labour Party. That’s your money and mine going straight to the Labour Party coffers.
.
Back to Union Money. They have 3 offices, plus a training room, all free of rent, heating and lighting, IT and stationery in County Hall. Additional to this, as you know, DCC administer subscriptions for free and they have about half-a-dozen taxpayer funded DCC staff working either full-time or part-time on union duties. All paid for by the council tax. Your money and mine – again.
.
And in return, a fair proportion of Labour Councillors have their election expenses paid for by the various unions (it's on their declaration of interests).
.
As an aside, the Labour Party is busy dropping leaflets through doors across parts of Bishop Auckland - the theme..."nasty cuts, the worst recession since the 1930's and the neglect of the high street - present government to blame for all"

They are utterly shameless. And we are all being ripped off.
.
The Echo once run by Harold Evans would have exposed this fraud.
David

Just to confirm, I got confirmation a few days ago that the Labour Party is getting payroll services for free from Durham taxpayers, as well as the unions. no one else gets free payroll services.

So subscriptions are being paid across with council employees managing the system. Interestingly the Conservatives, Durham Independents, Wear Valley Independents, Lib Dems and Derwentside Independents don't do this and as far as I am aware never have on DCC

Meanwhile the council charges Primary Schools a lump sum plus £74.80 for each employee to manage their payroll services. hardly seems fair.

In addition senior staff are receiving 65p a mile in car allowances.

We tried to get these two obscenities scrapped in the budget but every labour councillor present voted against us. Most opposition councillors supported scrapping this waste as well as other waste. the problem in Durham is the Labour Party. Nearly a century of control and the county is still one of the poorest in the country. Can't blame the current government for that, it is decades of failure and waste by Labour and its comrades which is to blame.
Any chance of clarification Mr Wilkes?
Which members of the Labour Party are on DCC payroll?
Surely you cannot be talking about donations taken directly out of the payrolls of staff and the allowances of councillors???
If this is what you are talking about then maybe you ought to look at other Lib Dem councillors as the libdemvoice quotes..........
"Over the last few years there has been an increasingly common pattern in the party of asking or expecting councillors to contribute sums to their local party or council group to help pay for the campaigning that got them elected and for other support. The standard request is for the equivalent of 10% of what they receive in allowances (often with adjustments for less well off councillors)."

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cllrmarkwilkes says...
11:09pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Ian

Primary schools must pay for payroll services, as must all departments, but the money taken from Labour councillors allowances and paid across to the Labour Party is dealt with for free, just as the £1.15m union dues are collected for free as well. Other councils charge 1-5% for this as there is an administration cost on the taxpayer. The issue is therefore not whether an amount is paid but who pays to administer it. If the unions/Labour party subscriptions were charged at 2.5% as in other authorities the council would collect around £30,000 towards the cost of running the payroll system. tour Lib Dem budget proposals included bringing in a charge of 2.5% to cover the expense of managing the union fees - much as other councils ahve already done.

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IanfromCrook says...
11:46pm Mon 4 Mar 13

cllrmarkwilkes wrote:
Ian

Primary schools must pay for payroll services, as must all departments, but the money taken from Labour councillors allowances and paid across to the Labour Party is dealt with for free, just as the £1.15m union dues are collected for free as well. Other councils charge 1-5% for this as there is an administration cost on the taxpayer. The issue is therefore not whether an amount is paid but who pays to administer it. If the unions/Labour party subscriptions were charged at 2.5% as in other authorities the council would collect around £30,000 towards the cost of running the payroll system. tour Lib Dem budget proposals included bringing in a charge of 2.5% to cover the expense of managing the union fees - much as other councils ahve already done.
Researching this is like swimming through mud. However thanks for the prompt reply. A couple of points. 30000 is a lot less than the sums mentioned on your webpage. Surely it seems that councillors are being treated as directly employed by the council and that is why there is no fee. I frankly find it hard to believe that other councils do charge surely an easier option would be to cut allowances by a few %. I think the mileage reduction was a good point and obviously nobody will defend the clothing allowance.

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cllrmarkwilkes says...
12:42am Tue 5 Mar 13

Ian

We also pay for full time union staff from council tax as well as fund free accomodation and the like.hence the higher figures.

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argo2013 says...
9:04am Tue 5 Mar 13

jsrace, Further to our discussion about windlesstone hall,the thatcher government sold of homes that were public property at knock down prices when they were't even theirs to sell!,and no one was prosecuted so were is that relavant to Durham council?

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cllrmarkwilkes says...
9:09am Tue 5 Mar 13

http://www.thenorthe
rnecho.co.uk/news/co
uncil/durhamcountyco
uncil/10266104.Cloth
ing_allowance_under_
review_as_councillor
_claims_fur_coat_was
_bought_in__the_sale
s_for___30_/

Looks like all the pressure may be paying off.

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jsrace says...
10:31am Tue 5 Mar 13

Argo

Forgive me as this is the last time I will reply to you, because I fear I may have done myself some severe brain damage by battering my head against this brick wall! A brick wall might I add belongs to a house which was advertised on the market to get the best price possible for the vendors to which I had to put offers in and even increase them because of competition.

I would just like to add that I have to eat into my clothing allowance to pay for my house, even though I work for my clothing allowance by actually working for a living! But alas I don't blame when it comes down to political parties on either side because I know that Attila The Hun was worse.

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sherburn says...
10:53am Tue 5 Mar 13

argo2013 can I just Say you are speaking utter bulls---- do you honestly believe this rubbish you are telling yourself I am worried about you, you remind me of a Labour councillor from the Meadowfield/ Brandon area he keeps telling himself that rubbish you are sprouting on about. wake up and smell the coffee don't be deluded Labour is bad for your health !!!!

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darlomag says...
11:18am Tue 5 Mar 13

Ah, Labour in Co Durham, still putting the people first then eh? Or still taking us all for granted? Politicians STILL just don't get it!

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argo2013 says...
12:12pm Tue 5 Mar 13

Sherburn, So i should be taken in by the tories then should i , nobody takes me in i can think for myself, there is corruption in every party ,that's why certain people go in for politics,i said before that i was not defending the allowance in question,i was merely pointing out that people in other parties i.e. Eric Pickles do not practice what they preach how can that be bull? The tories did not have the right to sell of council homes,that was to cut back on government expenditure to free up cash to help their friends.

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David Lacey says...
12:18pm Tue 5 Mar 13

I do wish that people like ARGO could spell and write their messages in reasonable English. We could then have more confidence in their assertion that they can think for themselves. The above posting is gibberish. Complete garbage - the product of a scrambled brain.

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argo2013 says...
12:18pm Tue 5 Mar 13

JSRACE ,I hope your head injury gets better soon, and as i said i do not defend the amount of money claimed by councillors,and i'm sorry you think it's wrong but ok for other people concerned with the government of this country to get away with the same thing,please keep away from the walls in your house it's not good for you!!!

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argo2013 says...
12:27pm Tue 5 Mar 13

I'm sorry that it seems like gibberish when i don't speak your version of the truth, but that is what is called having an o-p-i-n-i-o-n, sorry it is that it is not the same as yours but as you say that's tough.

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sherburn says...
12:54pm Tue 5 Mar 13

argo you said " Durham has poorer services because they receive less funding than areas which are administered by the tory party, which is a form of pressure to intimidate people to change their voting habits_______very democratic,but it will not work.!!

Yes it will because durham Labour have made a right hash of everything, by the way are you the labour councillor from meadowfield haha

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IanfromCrook says...
1:06pm Tue 5 Mar 13

cllrmarkwilkes wrote:
Ian

We also pay for full time union staff from council tax as well as fund free accomodation and the like.hence the higher figures.
Of course you seem like a reasonable bloke but I have this problem. I am by nature left wing (in most aspects) yet feel completely let down by a section of local labour councillors. However the only possible alternative would be LIb Dem which I am afraid nationally is now a DEFINITE no go area for myself who does not like a party that shows itself to have the morals the consistency of jelly. I would like D.C.C. to be more accountable but would hate to seem to praise your leadership by giving them a vote when I am sooooo against them nationally (which by the way I was not in the Steel/ Ashdown /Kennedy years - - though I am disappointed at their lack of concern). Independent or bust I guess!!!

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argo2013 says...
2:47pm Tue 5 Mar 13

Sherburn, the tories have used the same tricks every time they have been in power ,and they have not and will not succeed because unlike you ,most people arround here have more backbone ha -ha.

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argo2013 says...
2:48pm Tue 5 Mar 13

Sherburn, the tories have used the same tricks every time they have been in power ,and they have not and will not succeed because unlike you ,most people arround here have more backbone ha -ha.

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sherburn says...
3:21pm Tue 5 Mar 13

so argo are you that councillor from meadowfield haha

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Withnail Lefty says...
3:33pm Tue 5 Mar 13

Why do marginal seats always attract more investment, resources, community benefits and general love & affection from all the main parties? Is it because the incumbent party realise the voters will not stupidly re-elect them time after time if they behave like self serving clowns?

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argo2013 says...
3:35pm Tue 5 Mar 13

Sherburn, If you read my comments properly , you would have seen that i did not defend the clothing allowance labour councillors have been claiming.I pointed out that Eric Pickles dept,the very people who oversee Durham council are overspending right throughout their dept , so if it is right Durham should not be claiming so much on this allowance then surely it is the same for Eric Pickles's dept also, and please son cut out the childish insults.

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sherburn says...
3:37pm Tue 5 Mar 13

backbone argo ? could be worse I could be a labour lover like you thank god I have seen the light and so will so many more Labour are going underground, going underground god i love that song

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sherburn says...
3:43pm Tue 5 Mar 13

Now now don't spit ya dummy out Argo Have I touched a nerve haha

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argo2013 says...
4:00pm Tue 5 Mar 13

Silly little kid,does your mother know you 're playing with her computer?

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sherburn says...
4:17pm Tue 5 Mar 13

bite of the day goes to, drums pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeee
eeeeee yes correct argo its you haha quality.

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CitizenJSmith says...
10:00pm Tue 5 Mar 13

Better bishop wrote:
Durham county council is one of the largest councils in the country. If your a full time councillor earning 13,300 per year ( before tax) then after paying mortgage, utility and food you don't have much left over. If the chairman attends events throughout the country then we need them to look there best and not like a bag lady like our MP in bishop Auckland!!!
Whilst I agree with your statement that in the region of £13,300 is not a lot of money to support yourself and conduct a responsible public role. However most people can afford one smart suit and video conferencing!
The real issue is why people are stepping forward to conduct the role of Councillor and looking for any financial renumeration! Do the words Public and Service mean nothing!?
The people who require or seek money to conduct the role of local or National politician are therefore compromised, to varying degrees by this.
Society should seek nothing for such service. Fluffy political idealism I hear you say. Perhaps. But every idea when conceived has been ridiculed. Racial equality and the sufferagets to name two.
We must begin as a society to expect more than the failed dreams of the past. To cast out social and moral apathy. This starts with each individual taking a long hard look in there own mirror before casting an eager eye on their neighbours. People love to demonise belittle chastise those who ha ve more than them presumably because there to weak or inadequate to focus on their own inhibiting character flaws. With this point noted (greed,jealousy,cons
umerism BAD) I seek to conclude my statement.
Churchill said " capatism is the worst form of governmental and economist system, except for all the rest!" Bowing to his considerable wisdom. I say there will always be haves and have nots. People need to accept this reality and understand that the people who by and large have success/money have it for a reason they are quantifiable better individuals in any singular or multiple of ways. Everyone can be a better person you just have to care enough about your world to make everyone else's a better place to be!
In conclusion don't vote for people with political agendas that have failed for a century. Vote for someone whos rich generally well educated and interested in getting to Denmark (political and socio economic Nirvana) and not for someone who think 30 years of poor policy is justification for its continuation. Ref: £12000 clothing allowances for Durham County Council Councillors.

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David Lacey says...
9:46am Wed 6 Mar 13

Wise words. The way to bring sense to local authority control is to ban any member of any political party from standing. Only independents should be allowed on the ballot paper. Delivering quality services at reasonable cost is not a matter for someone primarily tainted with a party allegiance.

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johnny_p says...
3:35pm Wed 6 Mar 13

Why are people commenting about the current coalition, the "Tories", David Cameron, UKIP, Butchers or using the "they're all at it" analogy? This issue is regarding a thoroughly corrupt Labour Council who have absolutely no regard for the people they are supposed to represent. Anything else mentioned is just a convenient distraction from some pretty abysmal behaviour.

So what are we going to do about it? Protest anyone?

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jsrace says...
4:34pm Wed 6 Mar 13

johnny_p wrote:
Why are people commenting about the current coalition, the "Tories", David Cameron, UKIP, Butchers or using the "they're all at it" analogy? This issue is regarding a thoroughly corrupt Labour Council who have absolutely no regard for the people they are supposed to represent. Anything else mentioned is just a convenient distraction from some pretty abysmal behaviour.

So what are we going to do about it? Protest anyone?
johnny_p

We seem to be on the same wavelength.

Could I suggest that the social media is used as a way of protest by setting up a sort of D.C.C. Watch? Anyone savvy enough to set this up?

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caberwocky1 says...
7:51pm Wed 6 Mar 13

Agreed think they need to look at the City of durham mayoral trust-does the mayor have a clothing allowance?

Who are the trustees?

Why do we need a mayor?

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jsrace says...
8:40pm Wed 6 Mar 13

Log onto Facebook and search for “Durham County Council Watch”

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Hunty1 says...
12:54pm Fri 8 Mar 13

This is hilarious....

Just pleased the NE have kept the comments on, poor old woman must be distraught at some of the comments though, and if she was my mother I'd be taking her to Trinny & Susannah!

I bet there's a few fuming faces also, especially at the amount of cutbacks DCC have made..

Well done DCC..

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Hunty1 says...
12:54pm Fri 8 Mar 13

This is hilarious....

Just pleased the NE have kept the comments on, poor old woman must be distraught at some of the comments though, and if she was my mother I'd be taking her to Trinny & Susannah!

I bet there's a few fuming faces also, especially at the amount of cutbacks DCC have made..

Well done DCC..

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sherburn says...
9:54am Sun 10 Mar 13

argo2013 wrote:
Silly little kid,does your mother know you 're playing with her computer?
She does argo you silly old man but she told me not to speak to strange men like you haha

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