News

Council should get "bonus" for financial management

By Jon Nurse
February 26, 2013

Council bosses feel their prudent spending deserves a bonus rather than another Government grant cut.

Faced with the lowest formula grant per person in the country, Wokingham Borough Council is being forced to make widespread savings.

Members of the borough council’s decision making executive likened the disappointing grant to being penalised for success while others are rewarded for failure.

Councillor Anthony Pollock, executive member for finance, said: “When people do well in their employment they get a bonus. We do well and get nothing.”

The council has saved £16.5 million since 2009, but has in turn been given increasingly lower grants from the Government – the latest is its worst ever finance settlement of just £86.60 per person.

The figure is around a quarter of the national unitary authority average of £313.10.

Chief executive Andy Couldrick said: “Rewarding good behaviour incentivises the good behaviour to continue. It feels like we behave well in many ways, but it doesn’t get rewarded.”

Graham Ebers, strategic director of resources, added: “The grants are so steered by deprivation factors it goes to the point of becoming bizarre.

“How can the basic grant per person be £86 per person here when elsewhere it’s nearer £1,000? I’m not saying there shouldn’t be some recognition of deprivation factors but it feels quite unbelievable.”

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Most recent user comments 8 of 8

If they managed to get reduced funding, then did they really do well? Surely an astute executive member for finance would realise that if they had not reduced costs by the brutal cuts to services then the basic grant would be higher AND we would recieve better value for money from our local authority. Maybe we need to elect someone capable of understanding how to play the game instead of these clowns.

Dave35
28/02/2013 at 07:29

Try not to read the headline guys. Council say they did well and the people in Whitehall took reduced their town allowance. Lets put this into perspective though. Easy to do well in an area where the recession has almost no effect #woky should be able to run off its own steam.

Kaz4Wokingham, Wokingham
26/02/2013 at 23:43

JSUB - it's almost as infuriating as those who say that the child benefit for the better off is being subsidised by the less well off. I'm all for the broader shoulders etc, but some things really are complete bull.

alex_f, Wokingham
26/02/2013 at 17:19

Should we not already be used to this? A majority of those from the Wokingham area are hard working folk who pay their way and contribute to the good of society. Or to put it another way, support those who have no interest in working hard and don't give a toss about society. Sounds like another way to tax the better off to me. And then there are twonks at the head of the opposition who will shout from the rooftops that the current system is unfair and penalises those on low incomes? I can feel my blood starting to boil!

JSUB, Reading
26/02/2013 at 16:18

I don't think any of them are actually saying they believe they should get a personal financial reward for good performance. I read it as the council's budget should be increased (rewarded) for good results.

£1,000 per person to £86 per person is quite absurd, especially when WBC's Counci Tax collection rate is above 99%. WBC makes money for other LA's t spend.

I P Freely
26/02/2013 at 15:42

It seems to me that, far too many people expect a bonus these days, just for doing the job for which they have already been paid to do.

Have we, as a nation, developed the mind set of toddlers being potty trained, where we expect the "good boy bonus" for just doing what we're expected to do anyway?

Tonk, Wokingham
26/02/2013 at 13:27

I was all ready to get angry and rant about how ridiculous our councillors are, but they're actually talking about the council the council tax nonsense where Wokingham gets robbed by national government every year, in which case they're right.

Damiano_Tommassi, Wokingham
26/02/2013 at 13:26

'Councillor Anthony Pollock, executive member for finance, said: “When people do well in their employment they get a bonus. We do well and get nothing.”'

No. You do well, and we pay you for doing your job. If you are not doing your job well, someone else deserves your job. You want a bonus? Go and work in the private sector.