Councillors Allowances are ‘Well Spent’

Date published: 03/06/2005

After controversy in previous years regarding councillors’ allowances, the same questions are being asked this year as official figures for 2004/05 show councillors claiming up to £25,000.  The figures have given rise to the familiar criticism that the role of a councillor is becoming more a paid job than a voluntary position.

Councillor Ian Duckworth, leader of the Conservative Party, said: “We are conscious of what people think about our allowances, but people must be aware that they are not decided by ourselves, but by an independent body of which we have no control. The numbers have actually dropped from last year - and the Conservative Party generally claim less than the other two parties as we stay on the basic allowance.”

He added: “However, it is very difficult for senior councillors to have a full-time job as well as look after thousands of people, and those that do it are miracle workers. Demands are high, and you are expected to make sacrifices such as seeing your family less.”

The most controversial is likely to be former council leader and Rochdale's new MP, Paul Rowen, whose allowances totalled £25,000, much more than the average full time wage in Rochdale. Councillor Rowen said:  "The amount that Councillors claim in allowances was agreed by an outside, independent body.  The amount that has been claimed is linked to the responsibilties that each individual member has within the Council.  I must make it quite clear that I received £25,408.73 last year as Leader of Rochdale Council - this is the same amount that the new Labour Leader of the Council will receive this year.  The job as Leader of Rochdale Council is a huge responsibility and the allowances reflect this.  Councillor's allowances in Rochdale are one of the lowest in this country.  If you compare that the Labour Leader of Manchester City Council received an ashtonishing £50,229 last year you will see that Rochdale is getting good value for money.  Even the Leader of the Opposition in Manchester received over £29,000 in the last year!"

Labour Councillor and Chairman of Employment, Lil Murphy, shares the same view as Councillor Duckworth: “Rochdale is actually one of the lowest paid areas for councillors. The basic rate is low, so there shouldn’t be the controversy that there is. I didn’t become a councillor to make money at the end of the day.”

“We don’t get petrol allowance, and we get about £5 a week towards our mobile phones, plus all the meetings we go to and other expenses, the allowances we get are well spent.”

“I get a special allowance for being the Chairman of Employment, but it still doesn’t amount to anything huge.”

Full allowance table: