Sunday, 8 May 2011

Now the Council Save Money, Now they Don't

Extracts from the Brecon and Radnor Express
April 2011

With the make-up of Powys' political face set to change later this month, when the council changes from a ruling board of 15 to a cabinet executive, the local authority has earmarked a saving of almost £50,000.
But instead of saving that or investing it in areas such as schools and social care, members voted at a full council meeting at County Hall in Llandrindod Wells on Thursday, April 28, to put that money towards increased councillor allowances.
The increase means Old Radnor councillor Michael Jones - who is currently the leader of the board and expected to be the leader of the new cabinet - will see his yearly income rise from £16,292 to £24,092 next month, while the other nine new cabinet members are set to benefit from just short of an extra £4,000. The 14 other members of the current 15 member board receive a special responsibility allowance of £9,775 per year but the nine members of the new executive are set to receive £13,675.
The cabinet is drawn from the Powys Administration, a coalition between the Powys Independent Alliance (PIA) and its Liberal Democrat junior partners.
This means that every one of Powys' 73 county councillors will not receive a rise in their basic allowance, which stands at £11,925 per year.

And this is the council who have a moratorium on spending - seemingly except on themselves!

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