Councillors Allowances - how will they vote?

Money

Tonight (Wednesday 14 December) at the full council meeting councillors will vote on whether to give themselves a massive increase in allowances.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/106730/council-to-consider-increasing-allowances-for-councillors-by-34pc

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/106832/council-leader-richard-farnell-in-line-for-a-51pc-rise

The proposal to increase councillors' allowances by a massive 34%, and Council Leader Richard Farnell's allowances by a whopping 51%, has been met with public outrage and a protest has been organised outside the Town Hall at 5.30pm prior to the meeting to lobby councillors on the way in.

Rochdale Online asked the party leaders two questions.

1. 'Are the councillors in your group subject to a party whip on the subject of councillors' allowances or will each councillor be allowed to vote with their conscience?'

2. 'If there is a party whip then is it to vote for or against the increases recommended by the panel?'

Conservative leader Ashley Dearnley said: "Members should listen to the debate and arguments and then decide how to vote."

Labour leader Richard Farnell did not reply. It is, however, understood that Labour councillors have been told they must vote for the increase.

Liberal Democrat leader Andy Kelly said: "No there is no whip. Yes we are voting with conscience."

Rochdale Online was asked by a reader to email every councillor with a question and to publish the response, or the lack of response.

'Do you think it is appropriate in these very difficult financial times to vote yourself a massive rise?'

Five of the ten Conservative councillors replied, though only one, Jim Gartside, was prepared to answer the question.

The two Lib Dems will be voting against the proposals.

Only one of the Labour councillors, Councillor Chris Furlong, replied.

Conservative

Councillor Ashley Dearnley: Members should listen to the debate and arguments and then decide how to vote.

Councillor Robert Clegg: No reply

Councillor Ian Duckworth: Our response will be given at the full council meeting.

Councillor Rina Paolucci-Escobar: No reply

Councillor James Gartside: Completely inappropriate, although probably it always is, but some is definitely deserved. We are surely not the worst councillors in Greater Manchester but are amongst the worst paid.

Councillor Michael Holly: You have received Councillor Dearnley’s response with which I concur.

Councillor Jane Howard: No reply

Councillor Ann Stott JP: No reply

Councillor Patricia Sullivan: It will be discussed tonight in council. And voted on.

Councillor Peter Winkler: No reply



Labour

Councillor Ali Ahmed: No reply

Councillor Iftikhar Ahmed: No reply

Councillor Shakil Ahmed: No reply

Councillor Daalat Ali: No reply

Councillor Sultan Ali: No reply

Councillor Andy Bell: No reply

Councillor Jacqueline Beswick: No reply

Councillor Cecile Biant: No reply

Councillor Surinder Biant: No reply

Councillor John Blundell: No reply

Councillor Malcolm Boriss: No reply

Councillor Allen Brett: No reply

Councillor Lynne Brosnan: No reply

Councillor Phil Burke: No reply

Councillor Neil Butterworth: No reply

Councillor Wendy Cocks: No reply

Councillor Ray Dutton: No reply

Councillor Susan Emmott: No reply

Councillor Janet Emsley: No reply

Councillor Richard Farnell: No reply

Councillor Christopher Furlong: No matter how the vote goes tomorrow I will be refusing the rise and will ask the council chief executive to ensure my allowance is pegged to its current rate.

Councillor John Hartley: No reply

Councillor Kieran Heakin: No reply

Councillor Jean Hornby: No reply

Councillor Aftab Hussain: No reply

Councillor Peter Joinson: No reply

Councillor Peter Malcolm: No reply

Councillor Donna Martin: No reply

Councillor Alan McCarthy: No reply

Councillor Daniel Meredith: No reply

Councillor Amna Mir: No reply

Councillor Kathleen Nickson: No reply

Councillor Shaun O'Neill: No reply

Councillor Liam O'Rourke: No reply

Councillor Aasim Rashid: No reply

Councillor Linda Robinson: No reply

Councillor Sara Rowbotham: No reply

Councillor Peter Rush: No reply

Councillor Billy Sheerin: No reply

Councillor Susan Smith: No reply

Councillor Carol Wardle: No reply

Councillor Shah Wazir: No reply

Councillor June West: No reply

Councillor Donna Williams: No reply

Councillor Peter Williams: No reply

Councillor Sameena Zaheer: No reply

Councillor Mohammed Zaman: No reply


Liberal Democrat

Councillor Irene Davidson: No it is not appropriate. I will be voting against.

Councillor Andy Kelly: No it is not appropriate. I will be voting against.