COSTING tax-payers in the area more than £1 million between them, a number of Central Bedfordshire Councillors were paid above the national average full-time wage for their part-time roles last year, recently-released figures have revealed.
The total cost of expenses and allowances paid to Central Beds Councillors and co-opted members for the financial year 2011/12 was £1,086,180.71 – £273,516.57 of which was spent on the 16 councillors from the areas which the Gazette covers.
Among those that received more than the national average wage for a full-time worker in the UK of £26,244 were Dunstable Downs councillor Nigel Young (£27,243.65) and Caddington councillor Richard Stay (£27,170.19).
Caddington councillor Mr Stay’s travel (£4,345.33) and subsistence (£781.63) expenses were the highest throughout Central Beds Council, but he says that those figures are justified due to the nature of his demanding position.
He told the Gazette: “It comes as no great surprise to me, as my role is in external affairs, and by definition I travel more than my colleagues.
“There is very little – if any – food in that total. It is more to do with attending conferences outside of Bedfordhire that require hotels.
“You have to take into account that I have to spend the money to get it back, so these are out-of-pocket expenses.
“It’s not up to me to decide whether I’m worth it, it’s up to the public. I hope I justify it. I think I do.”
Robert Oxley, campaign manager of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, believes the expenses and allowances system requires a major revamp.
He said: “Sadly there has been a rise in the number of professional politicians at local councils – the increasing pot of taxpayer-funded allowances claimed by councillors is a sign of that.
“No-one begrudges the expenses incurred in their civic role but budgets like like special responsibility allowances have gotten out of hand at many local authorities.
“With savings to be found councillors should take the lead by freezing their pay or even taking a cut to maintain the moral authority to make necessary spending cuts.”
Councillor’s basic, members and ICT allowances are subject to tax and NI contributions, while their mileage expenses are not.
To view the full PDF of the 2011/12 expenses and allowances, go to www2.lutontoday.co.uk/ads/lbo_jun19_p35.pdf.
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