Councillors' pay (From The Northern Echo)

Councillors' pay

8:45am Saturday 8th August 2009

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I AM appalled at the decision of Labour councillors on Durham County Council to award themselves a 20 per cent increase in allowances. That equates to the council tax payer paying £300,000 more a year for councillors’ allowances.

At a time when so many people in North Durham are worried about their jobs, meeting mortgage payments and paying sky high bills (including rocketing council tax in County Durham), it is an insult to the people of North Durham that Labour councillors voted to grab this allowance increase.

Council tax has increased well above the level of inflation. The county council is closing and selling off a number of important community facilities.

At the same time, Labour councillors are more than happy to take almost £2,000 more a year in public money. This is yet more proof that councillors should not be allowed to vote on their own pay and allowances.

The people of North Durham should be ready to give Labour a bloody nose to show that we are sick of their money being squandered and our votes being taken for granted by an out-of-touch Labour establishment.

David Skelton, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate, North Durham.

IT can be argued that the recent 20 per cent increase in allowances for Durham county councillors should have been higher or lower, depending on your view.

My view is that to encourage professional, high-quality, full-time candidates to come forward, councillors should be paid a full-time wage.

However, one thing most people will agree on is that Durham county councillors should not be allowed to vote on their own allowances.

I applaud the opposition Conservative group for abstaining on the issue – decisions on allowances should be taken by an independent panel able to take a fair and appropriate decision.

After the expenses scandal in Westminster, and increases in council tax here, we need Durham county councillors of all political parties to work together and start getting it right.

James Bell, Durham.

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