Councillors' free food at the taxpayers' expense

Free committee teas for councillors

Councillors are benefitting from thousands of pounds worth of free food at the taxpayers' expense.

The perk is on top of councillor allowances, which are to increase by 34% following a vote at Wednesday's full council meeting.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/106924/shouts-of-disgraceful-as-councillors-vote-themselves-a-massive-34pc-increase

Local resident/town centre hairdresser Greg Couzens submitted a Freedom of Information request to Rochdale Borough Council asking how much is spent on providing committee teas and catering for councillors.

His question: Could you provide me with the information regarding the full cost of committee teas and catering for the councillors.

The Council's response: The full cost of committee teas and catering for the councillors is £9.65 per head.

Mr Couzens said: "The level of cutbacks within all local authorities are inevitable due to the world economy, ageing population and increasing demands on services, this is a time to be more prudent with the finances, we have to be more creative and accountable, one of the huge savings that can be made is the free food for councillors, this is a serious amount of tax payers money that is totally unnecessary.

"Now that councillors have awarded themselves a huge pay rise, now is the time to charge and join the real world."

The 2013 Independent Remuneration Panel recommended that free meals should stop, their report said: "With regard to the provision of meals, that members and officers use commercial catering venues in the vicinity of the meeting location."

The panel noted "that provision was already made within the consolidated members’ basic allowance for the provision of meals when attending council meetings."

However, the panel's recommendation was ignored and over three years later councillors are still benefitting from free meals.

Lib Dem Leader Councillor Andy Kelly said: "I've never been a fan of councillors receiving free food. In the light of the new 'pay rises' for councillors, these should be scrapped immediately.

"The Independent Remuneration Panel of 2013 strongly recommended that councillors' 'teas' were scrapped. This, along with their recommendation that allowances were cut was ignored.

"Richard Farnell says that this council has 'no choice' but to go along with recommendations of independent panels - so maybe he should start here.

"The full council meeting makes decisions that affect so many people's lives. It is not a supper club."

Conservative leader, Councillor Ashley Dearnley and Labour leader/leader of the Council, Councillor Richard Farnell did not respond to requests to comment.