Protest at Town Hall against 34% increase in councillors' allowances

Protesters tackle Leader of the Council Richard Farnell about the massive increase in councllors' allowances on his way into the Council Budget Fixing meeting

Members of the public, led by Unison, protested at the Town Hall before Wednesday's Budget Fixing Council meeting against the 34% increase in councillors' allowances - chanting 'they want 34%; we can’t even pay our rent'.”

Sam O’Brien, Communications Officer for Unison, said: “If all the councillors did what seven of them are doing and gave the money back it would amount to £172,000 each year that could go into council services, in particular, homelessness, which is a growing problem in Rochdale.

“We have been told we have all had to make sacrifices and all faced the same austerity cuts, but councillors have been told they can have this massive rise.”

Protesters at Rochdale Town Hall

David Fenwick-Finn said: “At the same time as this 34%, we are facing cuts of up to £34 million by 2019. This is in addition to the £170 million cuts between 2010 and 2016. Government grants will end by 2019/20 and the only source then is through raising the business rates.

“It’s impossible, they should be opposing the cuts. The reality is the death of the local government. It’s as serious as that.”

Several of the councillors responded to the protesters as they made their way through to the Budget Fixing Council, including councillors Jean Hornby, Andy Kelly, Cecile Biant, John Blundell and Leader of the Council Richard Farnell.

Councillor Jean Hornby told the protesters she would be taking her increase, but giving the money to charity.

When asked if she would keep her increase, Councillor Cecile Biant responded: “I’m really disgusted that you can turn on hard-working councillors.”

One councillor, when a protester told him council workers faced a wage increase of just 1%, responded: “Is that my fault?”

Resident Kenneth Hall said: “It’s totally unfair when services are cut back to the extent that the disabled and care workers don’t get any pay rises.

“34 and 51 % is out of order. I thought it was a voluntary community role, not a paid career.”