Councillors urged to help balance budget

UK Independence Party councillors want the £8,994 annual allowance paid to all 72 county council members cut by £1,000 and the additional payments that are made to leaders of opposition groups scrapped.

The leader of the main opposition group currently receives £4,632 on top of their basic allowance with the leader of any other group made up of at least seven councillors given £2,316,

Ukip councillors David Simister and Sam Cross are urging fellow members to reduce the money they receive in line with the millions of pounds the county council is cutting from its budget.

Coun Simister, who represents the Harrogate division of Bilton and Nidd Gorge, said: “David Cameron likes telling us ‘we are all in it together’, and, that being the case, I’m sure his Conservative councillors will be happy to back our call.

“Why should the leader of the Lib Dems get an additional allowance when he leads a party of just eight, and why should the chairman get an extra £9,000 and his deputy £3,000?

“We shouldn’t be in politics for the money – we should be in it because we want to make a positive difference to the areas we represent.”

Ukip is suggesting the council chairman’s allowance should be cut by three-quarters and scrapping the vice-chairman’s payment altogether.

They also want to halve the fees paid to committee chairmen which range from £9,264 to £1,544.

The council’s independent remuneration panel, which sets allowances, is meeting this week and is due to make recommendations on the level of allowances in February.

Coun Cross, who represents Filey, said: “As county councillors we need to be setting an example and look at how we can help the county council balance its books. A good place to start is by reducing the amount of money members cost.”