Labour councillors 'told' to vote for massive increases in councillors' allowances

Councillor Daniel Meredith with Leader of the Council, Councillor Richard Farnell

Councillor Daniel Meredith has revealed that Labour councillors were only told about the proposal to massively increase councillors' allowances "a week before". In a further shocking revelation he added "and that we would be voting as a group to accept the independent report".

Father Paul Daly, parish priest of St Joseph's in Heywood, said: "It is rather sad that in a democracy local councillors are 'told that we would be voting as a group to accept the independent report'. We elect councillors and MPs to vote for what they consider is in the best interests of their ward, not to vote for something simply because they have been 'told' to do so. If it's just a question of obeying the whip, we don't need you all to turn up, we can just give Richard [Farnell] 48 votes to do what he wants with."

Prior to the vote in the Council Chamber on 14 December, Rochdale Online emailed Labour leader Councillor Richard Farnell and asked: '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?' He failed to reply.

Father Daly has been very critical of the huge increases at a time when council services are being cut and those council staff not losing their jobs forced to take unpaid leave. Father Daly emailed Steve Rumbelow, the Chief Executive of Rochdale Borough Council, suggesting there should be a public ballot on the increases, and was copied into a disparaging email from Leader of the Council, Councillor Richard Farnell to Mr Rumbelow about Father Daly:

Dear Chief Executive

How about another question on the ballot?

Should priests stick to preaching about religion?

Merry Christmas!

Councillor Richard Farnell

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/106924/shouts-of-%E2%80%98disgraceful%E2%80%99-as-councillors-vote-themselves-a-massive-34pc-increase