Councillor Andy Kelly hands in petition of over 1,600 signatures against rise in councillors' allowances
Date published: 02 March 2017
Councillor Andy Kelly
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Local Lib Dem leader, Councillor Andy Kelly handed in a petition of over 1,600 signatures to the Mayor at Wednesday's Budget Fixing Council.
Councillor Kelly said: “The 34% increase in councillors' allowances has been the most controversial in generations. Certainly since Richard Farnell controlled the council before.
“It’s wrong to say it’s the independent panel’s decision. Last time the council voted to reduce it. If it wasn’t our decision, why did we vote on it?”
He added: “The extra money is coming from emergency funds that should go on things like floods.”
Councillor Cecile Biant, Labour councillor for Spotland and Falinge, said: “I’m on a basic allowance only. I do 30-40 hours a week for this basic allowance. I’m on 19 committees, seven of which are community based and 12 I’ve been appointed to by the Council.
“It works out at £3/4 per hour for the work I do, which unions would be up in arms about. None of this work directly affects me, it’s for the ward, for the people.”
Councillor Richard Farnell defends the massive increase in councillors' allowances
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