Local resident slams response from Councillor Rina Paolucci-Escobar as 'disgraceful'

Councillor Rina Paolucci-Escobar

A local resident who emailed councillors following their decision on Wednesday to award themselves a massive 34% increase has described the response she received from Councillor Rina Paolucci-Escobar as "disgraceful".

Writing to express her "disappointment" at the increase in councillor allowances, the resident said: "I read the full story in the middle of the night on the Rochdale Online website. At the time I was feeding my eight-month-old baby. As I looked down at her my heart sank. I have brought my baby into a world of disappointment. She won't have the opportunities I had because many of the services are being cut in Rochdale and further afield.

"I am truly saddened that when many of the local services are being cut that a motion to increase the councillors' allowance and Leader of the Council's salary has been approved."

She added: "In times when the Council is making harsh cuts to the local services this is simply unacceptable."

In an attempt to justify the massive increase she had just voted to give herself, Councillor Paolucci-Escobar completely ignored the concern expressed about local services being cut and focused only on herself.

Her response: "I have worked all week and attended meetings afterwards and have not arrived home until 10pm every night this week.

"On Saturday I am going to an event as I am on the board of directors and on Sunday I am attending two events.

"At the end of the week I will have spent 22 hours on council work and that does not include dealing with emails and case work.

"I apologise but I must dash as I have emails and phone calls to make before I start work and when I finish at 7pm I have a meeting to go to and will the reply to all the emails I sent this morning. Hopefully, I should arrive home around 9pm tonight and spend some time with my family who I haven't seen all week."