Conservatives opposed council executive pay rise

Ian Duckworth, Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group and Ashley Dearnley, Leader of the Conservative Group

The Conservative group on Rochdale Council has said they were opposed to the massive pay rise proposed for senior council executives.

Labour finally amended the proposal to 1% pay rises last night at a tense Labour group meeting.

Councillor Ian Duckworth, Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group, said: "The Conservative Group decided at their last group meeting, by an overwhelming majority, not to support the proposed pay rise for the chief executive and senior officers. We felt it was simply wrong to ask council staff to face reduced earnings whilst taking on extra responsibilities, only to do the opposite with their leaders.

"The whole farcical situation could have been avoided if the leader of the council had displayed even an ounce of common sense, but the opposite has been the case. This has once again tarnished the reputation of the council and councillors and has also led to the chief executive, who is at heart a talented and decent man, being treated like a political football.

"Politicians forget at their peril that they are the servants of the people of the borough, not their masters."

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/84201/chief-executives-pay-rise-to-be-limited-to-1pc