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Cllr Stanton said everyone should share the burden of the economic climate
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Councillors' allowances will not increase

August 10, 2012

Cash allowances will not increase for borough councillors this year – and many are not claiming expenses following the national MP expenses scandal.

Robin Cops, chairman of Wokingham Borough Council’s independent remuneration panel, recommended at July’s full council meeting that members’ basic allowances should not be changed and advised councillors not to duck out of claiming expenses.

Mr Cops said: “Not all members claim all of their expenses due to concern about public and peer perception.

“We want to make the point that expenses, when they are justified, are an entitlement.

“They should be claimed without fear when they are incurred.”

Councillors unanimously agreed that the basic allowance of £7,360 – of which £6,360 is for attending meetings, £500 for travel expenses and £500 for IT and home office costs – should remain the same.

Councillors can also claim childcare allowance of £6.50 per hour for a total of 35 hours a month.

Councillor David Lee, leader of the council, said: “I don’t see any reason why we should be suggesting the allowance should be increased in these difficult times.”

Cllr Rob Stanton, deputy leader, added: “I take due note of the current financial position of the council and the economy in general.

“We are all going through a very difficult situation that could go on for a while.

“I feel that everyone should share this burden so I am happy to second this motion.”

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Most recent user comments 6 of 6

I P Freely - we have not heard much at all from your friend Councillor Baker recently?

Phil Challis, woodley
10/08/2012 at 13:44

£6.50 claims for child care. Why do councilors get allowances like this when no employed person would be allowed to make such claims?

PoneRana, Wokingham
10/08/2012 at 13:32

He has had a number of pops at the blues, though, so not too far from the normal posts!

And you can never have enough pops at that lot... 'do more sport (even though we're selling more playing fields)'. He's got me doing it now! But then, they do make it so easy.

Damiano_Tommassi, Wokingham
10/08/2012 at 12:23

I can't believe Cllr Maher has managed a whole comment on this article without mentioning that Woodley has no official public loo! Are you feeling ok Cllr Maher?

I P Freely
10/08/2012 at 11:29

I glad to see that the Tories are not increasing their allowance. This is a FIRST. What was offensive was when they tried to privatise the libraries, cut free travel for elderly, dropped their financial support for unemployed youth, closed Foster care home they did give themselves an increase.

Mind you this year Tory members running council-owned companies will soon be pocketing more than £13,000 a year each - oh well

Cllr. Tahir Maher, Earley
10/08/2012 at 10:14

...and some councillors can claim multiple allowances, depending on how many responsibilities they have. When I worked there, the leader of the council received more money in allowances (excluding expense claims) than I was paid as an annual salary before tax. And I was one of the better paid in my department.

Didn't they vote to increase their own allowances just last year?