Forum Topic

Julian Bell and Councillor Allowances

I noted at the launch of the Labour Manifesto for Ealing Council that Julian Bell, the Labour Leader, is quoted as saying "no more lavish increases to councillors’ allowances."I couldn't help but note (see link below) that he happily took virtually every penny in allowances last year. So whilst a fantastic little sound bite, where are his deeds to match his words? Why claim these 'lavish increases' if he is so abhorred by them?http://www.ealing.gov.uk/services/council/councillors/councillors_scheme_of_allowances/I believe, and as a Candidate in Hanger Hill Ward, that EVERY Councillor elected after May 6th 2010 should voluntarily accept, at the very least, a 5% reduction in their basic allowance, which currently is £9,612.00 annually. This is a personal decision I have taken and will pledge to do if elected. Whether other candidates, of all parties, follow me is for them to decide. Tough times are ahead for us all and Councillors should lead by example and take a trim in their costs to Ealing residents. We are all in this together afterall.It's not a huge sum, approx £480.00 per Councillor a year. That figure however multiplied by 69, the number of Councillors in Ealing, and we get £33,000 saved annually and over 4 years it's just over £130,000 - Now that's value for money!I hope that Julian and all Candidates fortunate enough to be elected to serve Ealing join in this voluntary reduction.Benjamin Dennehy

Benjamin Dennehy ● 5996d7 Comments

Rather like when a first post promotes some wonderful commercial offering, it seems ill-judged when it's a candidate for election effectively (or not in this case) promoting himself for the upcoming poll.

Sara Nathan ● 5996d

Benjamin, did you realise Hangar Hill is not actually in Acton W3? You should be electioneering on the Ealing Today forum.

Phil Conran ● 5994d

And which party does Benjamin represent ?

David Giles ● 5994d

Ovvie not Labour and too venemous to be LibDem so I would guess Tory.Am I right?

Sara Nathan ● 5994d

I agree. A cut in councillors' allowances at a time of national economic crisis is the sort of thing a Conservative candidate would propose. It is consistent with Conservative Party policy on cutting Ministers' salaries and reducing costs all round.

David Giles ● 5994d

Since the Tories were not bothered to penalise Sharma for his limited atendance  and since there has not been a reference in any local manifesto to reduce allowances, my conclusion is that all their snouts are in the trough together and the allowances will not be reduced.The Councillors should bring in a new set of rules which penalizes the slackers. The savings should go back into the Ward budgets.

George Knox ● 5994d

On Ealing Council’s website it is difficult to locate details of previous years allowances. Consequently you will be hard pressed to find (and what the original poster has ignored) is that one of Ealing Conservative’s first actions in 2006 was to increase allowances including the Council Leader’s by 50%.  (Check the Full Council minutes for July 2006).The Labour Party has a commitment to freeze Councillors allowances. You can find the link to the Ealing Labour Party manifesto here: http://www.ealinglabour.com/labour-launch-manifesto  and scroll to page 16.I disagree with your conclusion George that all their “snouts are in the trough”. No doubt there are good councillors on all sides of the council chamber and I know personally Cllrs Kate Crawford and John Gallagher, for example, work very hard for their constituents.  Locally the Labour Party in Acton has surgeries every Saturday for residents and has done so despite the fewer number of councillors it has had since 2006.  You make a point about Virendra Sharma. However having attended Ealing Council’s Housing Scrutiny Panel (representing the voluntary sector), I can tell you there were a number of councillors (in this case Conservatives, not all) who sit through meetings and say nothing and are only there to make up the numbers. There may be an issue about performance (non political) of councillors. But should attendance be the only measure of how effective a councillor is? In my opinion “presenteeism” is just as much an issue as absenteeism.    Hitesh TailorLabour Candidate for East Acton

Hitesh Tailor ● 5992d