Councillor Andy Kelly hands in petition of over 1,600 signatures against rise in councillors' allowances
Date published: 02 March 2017
Councillor Andy Kelly
Scroll down for Video
Local Lib Dem leader, Councillor Andy Kelly handed in a petition of over 1,600 signatures to the Mayor at Wednesday's Budget Fixing Council.
Councillor Kelly said: “The 34% increase in councillors' allowances has been the most controversial in generations. Certainly since Richard Farnell controlled the council before.
“It’s wrong to say it’s the independent panel’s decision. Last time the council voted to reduce it. If it wasn’t our decision, why did we vote on it?”
He added: “The extra money is coming from emergency funds that should go on things like floods.”
Councillor Cecile Biant, Labour councillor for Spotland and Falinge, said: “I’m on a basic allowance only. I do 30-40 hours a week for this basic allowance. I’m on 19 committees, seven of which are community based and 12 I’ve been appointed to by the Council.
“It works out at £3/4 per hour for the work I do, which unions would be up in arms about. None of this work directly affects me, it’s for the ward, for the people.”
Councillor Richard Farnell defends the massive increase in councillors' allowances
Do you have a story for us?
Let us know by emailing news@rochdaleonline.co.uk
All contact will be treated in confidence.
Most Viewed News Stories
- 1Royton haulage firm fined after Rochdale dad went to work and didn’t come home
- 2Unique colour and sound experience comes to Rochdale in May
- 3Ogden family announces intention to invest £2m in Rochdale AFC
- 4Rochdale church to host Camerados public living room
- 5Man convicted after police car filmed driving dangerously in Kirkholt
To contact the Rochdale Online news desk, email news@rochdaleonline.co.uk or visit our news submission page.
To get the latest news on your desktop or mobile, follow Rochdale Online on Twitter and Facebook.
