Commission on the role of local councillors

Pay for councillors is indeed a fascinating and provocative subject given the fact that effectively being a councillor is a hybrid between volunteering and work. On the one hand individuals put themselves forward for public service but at the same time are expected to meet stringent standards of ethical behaviour and their performance can be the subject of a level of scrutiny most workers would regard as intrusive.

In theory the question asked is irrelevant as councils can now pay their councillors (ie themselves) whatever they choose. Ultimately they pay reasonable sums because the issue is emotive and excessive payments (however defined) will generate legitimate public and media outcry. Councils have to have regard to an independent panel’s advice on allowance schemes and generally these have attempted to make some sort of objective assessment of the various “jobs” that councillors do – frequently recognising within this assessment that a significant part of the role is voluntary public service. Councillors suffer from a terrible stereotype – nearly always unjustified. Many of us will know many councillors and the vast majority of those commit to their various roles positively and generously, but when you think about how much to pay councillors think about what responsibilities they have. At one extreme we have Leaders or Mayors who will take decisions affecting the lives and life chances of hundreds of thousands of people. They are effectively the “bosses” of chief executives on six figure salaries and are nearly always full time politicians. They are also on what amounts to fixed term contracts – in the case of Leaders for just a year at a time. We expect these people to have extraordinary levels of competence and are generally rewarded with a “salary” of around £30-50,000 (around about 20p for every resident). Given the public service and political nature of the “job” that sounds about right – doesn’t it? Similar arguments apply to cabinet members.

The majority of Councillors are hard working, the majority of councillors are politically led. There are a few independents out there. I do not believe that a councillor who represents a political party, can also represent the interests of people locally. I think the best system would be where local people are elected as councillors to represent their ward, and not to represent their party.

There are many organisations locally, such as Resident Associations and Resident Federations, who put in just as much time, meetings and committment as councillors, but receive zero payment and dare I say it zero recognition locally. Why should the Residents Association Committee Members receive no payment, while a ward councillor does? Why should the Officers of the Local Residents Federation receive no payment, or the Chair of the Resident Association / Federation receive no 'portfolio holder' allowance? while councillors get a nice little bonus for each committee they are on or portfolio they represent. When local authorities are in financial trouble and the local councillors vote themselves an increase in their allowances, while services are being cut, is this best practice or value for money? Most volunteers in the local community give their time freely, either by choice or
because there are no allowances for them, so why shouldnt local councillors?..especially those that have full time jobs anyway. How can you serve properly when you work 9-5 monday to friday, surely your not putting in the same amount of hours as a councillor that does not work (or a resident association chairman or committee member!) I guess my point is, that if your looking at paying elected people more, you should also look at now paying elected people, such as those that Represent Residents Associations and Resident Federations too, because they are all elected locally as well! How much should you pay, well that's a tough one. if you devote your full time to the role as a Councillor £20k a year is reasonable I would say, but then I would say that £20k a year is also reasonable to resident groups/committee members as well!