Absent Bristol councillors could lose £11,000 allowance
Bristol city councillors who miss too many meetings could have their annual allowance docked.
A motion has been tabled for Tuesday's full council meeting after a row involving Lib Dem Councillor Shirley Brown who last year married an American.
-
bsent Bristol councillors could lose £11,000 allowance
She has been accused of spending too much time overseas while continuing to claim her £11,000-a-year allowance.
The Tories' motion does not name any councillor but argues they should not receive pay if they are unavailable to serve their constituents due to prolonged absences.
Under national legislation, a councillor is entitled to claim their allowance as long as they do not miss six consecutive meetings of the council.
But the motion calls for a voluntary arrangement between the political groups so that "an absentee councillor's allowances will be suspended for the duration of any unwarranted or unapproved absence".
Councillor Brown sparked a race row after calling a Tory colleague a "coconut" at a recent meeting.
The comment will be considered at a meeting of the council's standards committee next month.
Tory Leader Richard Eddy (Con, Bishopsworth) said: "People feel aggrieved when they hear of certain councillors being paid to represent their constituents when they are not in a position to carry out this important role.
"Such a situation brings the council into disrepute and must not be allowed to continue.
"In the absence of reform at a national level, we are calling for a voluntary scheme between the parties locally which would see an absentee councillor's allowances docked for unapproved absences.
"Never again should we have to tolerate situations where an individual like former Lib Dem councillor John Astley continued to profit from the public purse whilst on remand and then imprisoned for criminal offences."
Councillor Brown was unavailable for comment.
But Lib Dem council leader Barbara Janke, said: "This is a very selective approach.
"It does not deal with members whose words or deeds bring the council into disrepute, which is much worse than being absent.
"There have been a number of cases over the years, from all political parties.
"I'm not sure that it's possible to dock members' allowances.
"But if it is right to seek to withhold allowances for absence, it is also right to do so for these actions that bring Bristol City Council into disrepute, too.
"The Tories should think hard before throwing stones from glass houses. Shirley Brown has been frank and open about her marriage to a US citizen and the time she has spent in the US.
"Shirley's absence did not exceed the six month rule and she is now back working in her community."
17 Comments
View all
by Peter, Barton Hill
Wednesday, March 24 2010, 8:44PM
“Sorry, I have gotten the flavour.
Words of Barbara Janke; "I'm not sure that it's possible to dock members' allowances.
My words: "Well there damn well ought to be"/”
by Peter Brown, Barton Hill
Wednesday, March 24 2010, 8:38PM
“I was about to comment, but what is the point. I always vote but to what avail. The majority of any politicians follow their own agendas rather than those of the people who put them there. Oh hell, I commented anyway”
by Jeremy, Kingswood
Monday, March 30 2009, 6:11PM
“This chimes with the problems in the system of expenses we currently see at Westminster where our MPs are allowed to claim expenses for running a second home but is unable to police whether what is being claimed is for parliamentary purposes. I suspect the viewing of porn is not for parliamentary purposes - even if you do work for the home office! I also suspect we need to tighten up our own city affairs as no doubt there are things going on there that we as tacpayers would be very unhappy with. If we're paying for representation we should expect to get it.”
by Alex, Mangotsfield
Monday, March 30 2009, 6:05PM
“it would seem to be an extremely lucrative way to scrounge a living. To get one-self-elected and fail to attend the properly convened meetings (of which you are made aware of),seems to me to be downright dishonest .Should I fail to show up at work without furnishing a sick note,I would be deprived of my income .So WHY should absentee councillors still receive payment ,? this system requires an immediate re-structuring preferably by tomorrow.”
by Mark, Budapest - Hungary
Monday, March 30 2009, 5:33PM
“Seems (quite rightly), I should not apply for a councillor position. Oh well I can always apply for the Hungarian PM position :0)”
by Ben, Clifton
Monday, March 30 2009, 5:31PM
“Councillors should only be remunerated for their council work and council and committee meetings attended. Pay As You Attend. If a Councillor is unable to attend a meeting for whatever reason, they won't have contributed to it, so why get paid. No.”
by Mike, Bristol
Monday, March 30 2009, 4:59PM
“Don't forget they've cheerfully awarded themselves pensions so we'll be paying for them long after they've stopped "serving" the council.”
by I.R KITTEH, Bristol
Monday, March 30 2009, 2:43PM
“In the case of BCC I wonder if it might be more beneficial for the citizens if we paided the council to stay away from meetings altogether, it'll save millions in crazy schemes and wasted opportunites.”
by David, Somerset
Monday, March 30 2009, 12:10PM
“Representing their constituents isn't just an "important role" for local councillors; it should be THE MOST important aspect of a councillor's remit.
Too many councillors are allowed to get away with habitually ignoring constituents' emails and letters (and generally making themselves unavailable to their electorate) merely because - when it comes down to it - they turn up for key meetings of the full council and vote according to the wishes of political party X, Y, or Z.”
by James, Bristol
Monday, March 30 2009, 12:09PM
“I do beleieve our 'erstwhile' council leader also has his snout firmly in the trough which is why nothing will ever change.
Increased councillers allownaces were menat to attract a better calibre of councillor, sadly even the most unitelligent amongst know that money attracts greed not public spirited people.”