Dominic Hannigan calls on new Vale Council leader to cut allowances for senior Councillors

11.36.52am GMT Wed 10th Jan 2007

Dominic Hannigan wants the money spent on local services instead

Penarth Liberal Democrats have reacted angrily to the decision of the Vale of Glamorgan Council not to cut the number or level of allowances paid to senior councillors.

Dominic Hannigan, the Welsh Lib Dem Assembly Spokesperson for Cardiff South and Penarth, said that the new Council leader had been written to prior to yesterday's meeting, to invite the new administration to take steps to reduce the council's allowances bill. By following the example of the Liberal Democrats in Cardiff County Council, he estimates £500,000 could be saved over the lifetime of a Council, which could be used to provide front line services.

Dominic Hannigan said "The first thing the Lib Dems did in Cardiff was slash the number of places on the executive, reduce the amount paid to senior councillors by 10%, and freeze all allowances for four years. We called on Cllr Alexander to do the same but she, and the rest of the Council, obviously think that money is better spent on themselves than the people of the Vale and Penarth.

"If she was to reduce the number of cabinet members to herself plus four others, and get rid of all of the committee vice chairs, and then freeze top allowances after cutting them by 10%, they would save around £120k this year. After four years, £0.5m could be returned for services.

"At a time like this, we were hoping for a change of heart, and the interests of residents to be put first. Instead, it just looks like business as usual with a new face at the top."

Currently, all members receive a basic allowance of £11,883. In addition the following special responsibility allowances are paid in respect of the following offices.

Leader x1 (£32,892)

Deputy Leader x1 (£18,087)

Cabinet members x7 (£16,440 each)

Scrutiny Committee Chairs x4 (£9,867 each)

Leader, official opposition x1 (£9,867)

Other Committee Chairs x2 (£6,579 each)

Chairman of Council x1 (£6,579)

Scrutiny Committee Vice Chairs x4 (£6,579 each)

Other Committee Vice Chairs x2 at least (£3,288 each)

Vice Chairman of Council x1 (£3,288)

Leaders of minority opposition groups x2 (£3,288 each)

Under Lib Dem proposals all members would continue to receive a basic allowance of £11,883, with the following reduction in the number and amount paid in respect of special responsibility allowances (SRAs). We would propose that the Leader is responsible for the functions relating to the Chief Executive, and the Legal and Regulatory Services Directorates, and the remaining cabinet members each become responsible for the functions of one of the Council's other four directorates. These SRAs would then be frozen for a four year term.

Leader x1 (£29,603)

Deputy Leader x1 (£16,278)

Cabinet members x3 (£14,796 each)

Scrutiny Committee Chairs x4 (£8,880 each)

Chairman of Council x1 (£8,880)

Leader, official opposition x1 (£8,880)

Other Committee Chairs x2 (£5,921 each)

Vice Chairman of Council x1 (£2,959)

Leaders of minority opposition groups with more than 10% of members x1 (£2,959)