Stoke-on-Trent City councillors claim more than £713,000 in allowances
CITY councillors claimed more than £713,000 in allowances and expenses during the past year – amid an ongoing row over whether they should accept an increase.
New figures for 2011/12 show the cost of reimbursing elected members fell from the £885,500 paid a year earlier after a citywide boundary reform cut the number of councillors from 60 to 44.
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But members controversially approved an increase in their allowances in March but agreed to defer it until a national pay freeze for council staff is lifted, which is expected to be next year.
The decision will increase the annual bill for members' allowances by at least £67,750, equivalent to a pay rise of roughly nine per cent.
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Accounts revealing total allowances claimed for May 2011 to May 2012, and travel expenses paid out up to April 2012, show:
Special responsibility allowances paid in addition to the basic rates for cabinet members, committee chairman and the deputy and Lord Mayor cost £207,477;
Basic allowances of £11,000 paid to all members cost a total of £484,602;
Members claimed a total of £21,154 in travel and subsistence expenses during the 2011/12 financial year.
An elected member's role in representing ward residents, shaping policy, scrutinising plans and taking responsibility for council decisions is technically an unpaid public service.
But councillors receive an allowance to reimburse them for time spent on council business and also claim travel expenses.
Council leader Mohammed Pervez, whose £44,752.23 remuneration was the highest for the year, is one of several members who also works full-time.
He said: "Our councillors put in an enormous amount of time and effort into their roles, there is no doubt about that.
"The allowances are recommended by an independent remuneration panel, but the decision of the full council was to not accept the rise in allowances while there is a pay freeze on staff."
Non-aligned councillor Paul Breeze, who represents Birches Head and Central Forest Park, was the only councillor to vote against the deferred pay increase – as he felt it should be immediate.
He said: "I work above 50 hours per week and I'm on call seven days a week including evenings.
"Whenever I step outside my house or go shopping in Tesco there is something people want to bring up.
"When you weigh up the hours and commitments, an increase to £12,000 is more than justified.
"I couldn't do it if I didn't get paid. To me it is a job, not a vocation or calling, and the people of Northwood and Birches Head are my employers."
Steven Pritchard, pictured, chairman of Portland and Cobridge Residents' Association, said: "It's really frustrating that allowances are increasing. It's a classic case in government where they say we're all in it together, but really they mean 'you are all in it together'."
Figures cover all claims made in the financial year, including those by former councillors Hazel Lyth and Denver Tolley.
Mr Tolley claimed £526 before handing over the Lord Mayoralty to Terry Follows, while Mrs Lyth claimed £122 for travel shortly before losing her seat.
A total of 23 of the councillors were newly elected or re-elected on May 5 last year, meaning a full year's travel claims are likely to be slightly higher than the amount shown.
Comments
by camband
Sunday, June 10 2012, 12:42PM
“@ sloblocks - '... So can anybody tell me how Mr. Pervez can do a full-time job and still justify his £44,752.23. Just how much can he put in to his council duties??????????????????????????????? unquote.
Pervez lives on Cobridge Barracks Rd Estate -originally 'all council housing' -but many now, as with other such 'Council Estates' -are privately owned -not Council owned 'Council Houses'.
On the income he's generating -full time job and on top of that salary (whatever that is) -he gets this ludicrous sum of £44,752.23p ...must put him in a position, not only to have bought that house outright -but even to move next door to the Van Larschott money bags over in Stone.
I' bet he'd love to do just that -but daren't ! He's just another 'champagne socialist' (well not champagne -his religion doesn't permit it -but whatever equivalent tag suits). An obvious Tory at heart. Just another political poseur, laughing all the way to the Bank.”
by gormhenghast
Sunday, June 10 2012, 10:17AM
“Pigs with snouts in the trough. Sorry that being nasty to pigs”
by Dizzy1960
Sunday, June 10 2012, 9:39AM
“This is the rewards the Oik's gain for dancing to the tune of the GIMP's, who are developing this city to benefit themselves and not those residing within it.
All they are is; MISREPRESENTATIVES. And it's about time we remonstrated against these low-life individuals.
Apark@Stoke4LUZ
honi soit qui mal y pense”
by sloblocks
Saturday, June 09 2012, 8:01PM
“When I was self employed and ran my own little business my day was as follows:
7.00am. Get up, make pot of tea, head for bathroom/shower.
8.00am. Leave for work.
8.30am. Arrive work.
6.00/6.30pm. Leave work.
6.30/7.00pm. Arrive home.
7.00pm - 11.00 pm. Prepare meal, eat meal, wash dishes, relax in front of tv if I had not taken any paperwork home, go to bed.
This I did for 5 days a week, often working Saturday mornings. The rest of the weekend would be for shopping/diy/car maintainance/gardening etc. So can anybody tell me how Mr. Pervez can do a full-time job and still justify his £44,752.23. Just how much can he put in to his council duties???????????????????????????????
Unless I was in the wrong job of course, or didn't know the right people.”
by ExMilitary
Saturday, June 09 2012, 7:03PM
“I have recently moved from the potteries a place I love. I have just read a £56 pound hike in bedroom tax ? And our elected Councillors have there hands in the public purse again ..... Is this on-line so we can see who has scooped the cream ? This whole Goverment is disgusting they really do want the person who can be bothered to work to be a "slave". Not so long ago we had eqaulity/diversity rammed down our throats ...... Is eqaulity getting continually shafted by elected conmen.”
by mole10
Saturday, June 09 2012, 6:48PM
“Don't pick on me (pointlessly) regarding Tristram Hunt and the pensioners convention.
Where was Tristram when HIS Meadows care home shut?
In the same bunker as the Mitchell High school?
Note the shut out out by Hunt and Flello in anything that should involve THREE City Labour MPs.
Who am I to suggest that two are scrapping it out to remain in a two seater City?
'St, Michael's shall live' should be the rallying cry of Stoke people.”
by stokeandvale
Saturday, June 09 2012, 10:37AM
“TYPICAL LABOUR..............”
by mrdoulton
Saturday, June 09 2012, 7:40AM
“2 years till this incompetant council can be put out of office. Lets start now dont vote for them vote for no one and give no one a mandate to run this city. Whitehall will come in and tbh we would be better off.......... now i woken up the votes in city are so lazy and just vote as dad did. one thing i can do is move , but i cant i love my city”
by camband
Friday, June 08 2012, 11:52PM
“@ Alberus... quote: Then, with a scream I wake up." -
'With the chain of office around your neck!! ''YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MESS -WAKE UP WAKE UP YOU STINKING RICH DOLT!!' -a million voters surrounding your bed...”
by Jobeeone
Friday, June 08 2012, 8:28PM
“If it is a job as Paul Breeze ( apparently Mike Wolfes lap dog) states then they are not doing it very well are they? Instead of bemoaning people approaching him he should be approaching them to ask them what he should be doing to support them.
@Mole 10 We all know you have a bone to pick with Tristram Hunt but you don't really know what the man has been prepared to do with regard to the Pensioners Convention campaigns. Which are still going on by the way and instead of whinging you could get involved with.”