Durham council to review disputed 'clothing allowance'

4:24pm Friday 8th March 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Mark Tallentire, Reporter (Durham)

Chairwoman Linda Marshall receives an annual clothing allowance of £8,580 but has defended the fake fur coat in this picture claiming it was bought in a sale for £30 Chairwoman Linda Marshall receives an annual clothing allowance of £8,580 but has defended the fake fur coat in this picture claiming it was bought in a sale for £30

THE leader of a council which was criticised for paying its chairwoman and vice-chairwoman so-called clothing allowances totalling more than £12,000 a year has announced a wide-ranging review of such spending.

Durham County Council’s Labour leader Simon Henig said the review would look at all expenses paid to the chairman and vice-chairman, as well as the mayor of Durham – which he said cost taxpayers £120,000 a year.

The announcement came after Liberal Democrat councillors launched a petition to scrap the civic allowances paid to the council’s chairman and vice-chairman – currently £8,580 and £4,280, respectively.

The Lib Dems said a review was not enough and the allowances must be axed immediately.

Councillor Amanda Hopgood said: “It is quite shameful that Labour councillors see a clothing allowance for their colleagues as more important than funding for frontline services. This must stop now.”

But Coun Henig said he objected to the term “clothing allowance”, as the money was used for a range of civic responsibilities, including some costs of awarding the Chairman’s Medal honour.

“I don’t find it helpful to have this political grandstanding.

“But we always listen to the public and I will be standing up a week on Wednesday (at a full council meeting) to announce a review into chairmen’s allowances.

“This will extend to other civic posts including the mayor of Durham. It needs to be part of a rounded discussion. I hope the Lib Dems will form part of this review.”

The council’s current chairwoman, Linda Marshall, is also expected to use the March 20 meeting to make her first public comments on the issue.

Coun Henig wants the review to be conducted by an all-party constitutional working group and begun as soon as possible – certainly before May’s local elections.

In recent years the Labour-run council has elected Labour chairmen, while the Lib Dem-controlled Charter Trustees group has elected Lib Dem mayors of Durham.

The Lib Dem petition can be signed online at http://alturl.com/brias or by calling 0191-372-5866.

Comments(16)

David Lacey says...
4:44pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Now they might turn their minds to the 7% levy they pay on their allowances straight to the Labour Party. How many residents know that their council tax goes in part to the Labour Party bank account?
.
67 Labour Councillors @ 7% of (basic allowance) £13,300 = £931 (£931 x 67 = £62,377) Over 5 years = £311,885, 10 years = £623,770.

The fact that DCC has the highest paid unitary authority councillors in England means they contribute the most to Labour's purse.
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All of this money comes from your council tax and goes to fund the Labour Party. Are you happy about it?
.

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argo2013 says...
4:55pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Yes are you happy about the money donated to the tories by bankers ,who in turn receive protection from reform from the tories?

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loan_star says...
4:55pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Henig doesnt like "political grandstanding" when he's in the firing line but its fine to do the same when he's aiming it at the government or other local political opponents. Hes just another Labour hypocrite.

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sherburn says...
6:15pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Argo argo argo oh no no no no your at it again yawn !

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argo2013 says...
7:27pm Fri 8 Mar 13

What telling the truth,so you can get at the labour party for how they obtain their funding,but not the tories double standards or what/ and in future don't patronise me about my views,this is not a one party state(that party being the tories).If it's questionable about where the labour party get their funding why not mention how straight -jacketed the tories are when it comesto the people they are funded by,or can't you cope ith that?

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jsrace says...
7:51pm Fri 8 Mar 13

loan_star wrote:
Henig doesnt like "political grandstanding" when he's in the firing line but its fine to do the same when he's aiming it at the government or other local political opponents. Hes just another Labour hypocrite.
Durham County Council refuse to take criticism full stop. A newly set up Facebook page called 'Durham County Council Watch' posted a simple non personal or political question on D.C.C.s page and was banned immediately.

For proof as to how self centred and allergic to criticism they are, just go to Facebook and search “Durham County Council Watch”

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Jolly Roger says...
10:40pm Fri 8 Mar 13

argo2013 wrote:
Yes are you happy about the money donated to the tories by bankers ,who in turn receive protection from reform from the tories?
But the money Bankers give is from they profits.

But what DCC give is what those who pay our Council Tax in Co. Durham for services. NOT for the Labour Party.

I want it stopped and my money paid for Services not to a policital party of any shape or form.

So stop it.

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st-george1 says...
10:22am Sat 9 Mar 13

Durham’s Labour Council generosity … doing things that seem to be secretive and so OUT OF LINE with Public expectation …
I agree that such unacceptable abuse of taxpayers money illegally OR unfairly must be axed immediately Having created a clothing allowance gravy-train on top of meal allowance, travel allowance, attendance allowance, pension allowance etc for some, is being seen AS more important than funding for frontline services AND surprisingly the leader wants an ALL-PARTY constitutional working group to carry out a review of this embarrassing situation asap, something which should have been done before being exceedingly generous with taxpayers monies !

PS … I don’t vote for a Marxist Labour Party and I DO NOT want any part of my council tax money, worth around £200+ each year to be unfairly diverted to the non-government party of the day slush fund, something that needs to be challenged and investigated in the Strasbourg Courts !

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Better bishop says...
5:33pm Sat 9 Mar 13

All DCC councillors are paid the same basic allowance. If the labour county councillors decide to donate 7% of their salary then that' s their business. It's just not true to say its tax payers money.

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JJTOP2 says...
6:35pm Sat 9 Mar 13

Fashionwise,

Is that the best they can do with taxpayers' cash? Sorry but mutton dressed like pork springs to mind? Could they not have afforded a personal stylist to advise?

Come on DDC you can do better, you know you can spend on trivia with impunity.

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argo2013 says...
6:48pm Sat 9 Mar 13

The bankers give money in return for favours from the tory party ,doesn't that concern you?The banks need reforming,but the tories are obstructing this on behalf of the banks,are you happy with that?

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vince.crosby says...
7:33pm Sat 9 Mar 13

So the Lib Dems have set up a petition have they do they give the allowance or the money from there Neighbourhood Budget I think they need to get real they are in it together spending tax payers money benefits the community I don't have a problem with the spending money or would you like to see the first lady of the county go around in old clothes tell it as it is the Lib/Dems would do the same if in control. The just wont admit it look at the Lib Dems in Parliament they have sold their policies to the Tories

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Longbowman666 says...
11:27pm Sat 9 Mar 13

Henig and co - if you want to see how your 'democracy' works, go and sit in a meeting of the council cabinet and see just how contemptuous they can be of any opposition, in fact their behaviour towards other Cllrs from different parties can only be described as rude. The trouble is that it would seem that if the Labour party stuck a red rosette on a pig it would get voted in in this area of the country - would be nice if people realised just how much of a ride they are being taken on.

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sherburn says...
9:49am Sun 10 Mar 13

argo2013 wrote:
What telling the truth,so you can get at the labour party for how they obtain their funding,but not the tories double standards or what/ and in future don't patronise me about my views,this is not a one party state(that party being the tories).If it's questionable about where the labour party get their funding why not mention how straight -jacketed the tories are when it comesto the people they are funded by,or can't you cope ith that?
I think you need anger management haha

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jsrace says...
12:11pm Sun 10 Mar 13

Argo2013 can only offer a defence of his beloved inept' self serving and ignorant of public opinion Labour Council by saying the opposition is just as bad.

Sorry argo2013, but you wore that one out a while back and no matter how much you try to deflect wrongdoing of the pathetic theft riddled organisation known as D.C.C. The more and more is coming to light, and the more that comes out, the more media attention is attracted by it.

Argo2013 you are typical of the hereditary labour voter, the type who believes if it has a red rosette, then they can do no wrong, because their parents and grandparents inherited the belief! Blind blind blind.

Facebook search for: Durham County Council Watch

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sherburn says...
4:21pm Sun 10 Mar 13

well said jrace

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