HartlepoolPost Forum

Politics => Local Issues and Matters => Topic started by: DRiddle on April 02, 2013, 05: PM

Title: And so it goes on....
Post by: DRiddle on April 02, 2013, 05: PM
http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/local/panel-recommends-allowance-rise-1-5543137

We all knew it was coming, but even so... The 'champions of the poor' have just clicked for thousands of pounds a year. Funny, I don't remember electing the Akers-Belcher household as 'mayor(s)' of the town....?
Title: Re: And so it goes on....
Post by: fred c on April 02, 2013, 05: PM
On the reported figures i make it.


£36,656
Title: Re: And so it goes on....
Post by: The Great Dictator on April 02, 2013, 06: PM
Is that joined income ?
Title: Re: And so it goes on....
Post by: Lucy Lass-Tick on April 02, 2013, 06: PM
Curiouser & curiouser ... is it a 'they forced us to get more, honestly they did' set up?

http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/local/group-leaders-reject-rise-1-5543129
Title: Re: And so it goes on....
Post by: DRiddle on April 02, 2013, 06: PM
Fred, if your maths is right (and mine is) that means that 63% of Mayor Drummonds wage has just switched bank accounts and will now be making it's way into the Akers-Belcher household.

So we lose Mr Drummond ............and gain those two.

It's not even like we save 37% of the wages though, because all the other allowances mean the total is MORE than Stuart was being paid.

I can't see where this '£1 Million saving' is going to come from. 
Title: Re: And so it goes on....
Post by: steveL on April 02, 2013, 06: PM
Just as an aside. The IRP Report was only made available to most councillors today yet, even given the publication lag of the Hartlepool Mail these days, there it is in today's edition. The implication here is that the report was given to The Mail well before elected councillors were given a copy - by whom, you may ask.

. . . and as an addition, did anyone notice this little bit of pettiness?

"Under the new system, it is recommended the majority group leader allowance be axed, the principal group leader allowance reduced and secondary group leader allowance scrapped all together."

Wells' allowance as leader of the Tory Group is scrapped altogether while Lilley's, as leader of PHF, is reduce from 60% of the basic allowance to just 30%. Perhaps someone has heard that any financial gain Lilley makes from receiving a group leader allowance goes into PHF campaign funds......I wonder who asked for that?
Title: Re: And so it goes on....
Post by: Lucy Lass-Tick on April 02, 2013, 06: PM
How odd ... it now seems that neither of the links to the Mail's articles are working ...
Title: Re: And so it goes on....
Post by: DRiddle on April 02, 2013, 06: PM
Probably something to do with the influx of public comments slamming the rises that were added to the article within an hour of it going live.

Title: Re: And so it goes on....
Post by: fred c on April 02, 2013, 07: PM
Your probably right DR..... i have made several comments over the last few weeks & they have mysteriously disappeared very shortly afterwards.

It would certainly appear that someone at the Civic "Leaks Reports" to the mail before "Elected Councillors" get to see them...........It isn`the first time & it wont be the last this kind of thing has occured.

By the very nature of this particular leak it can only have come from a highly placed source...... No surprise there then.
Title: Re: And so it goes on....
Post by: steveL on April 02, 2013, 07: PM
View the Full Report: (MS Word)

http://www.hartlepoolpost.co.uk/files/IRP Report April 2013.doc (http://www.hartlepoolpost.co.uk/files/IRP%20Report%20April%202013.doc)

Title: Re: And so it goes on....
Post by: whatabouthisthen on April 02, 2013, 08: PM
Don't forget CAB was bragging about getting more than £16000 some months ago. He must have known then. Who is on this so called independent remuneration board?
I wonder what HBC employees think about this. I don't think that the Union will oppose their pals' rise.
Title: Re: And so it goes on....
Post by: not4me on April 02, 2013, 08: PM
I think the problem with the Mail will be that they don't put things on the web until they have appeared in print in the paper. It looks like someone has jumped the gun because I don't think it was in the paper tonight (I only glanced at it in ASDA). It's probably tomorrow's main story.
Title: Re: And so it goes on....
Post by: DRiddle on April 02, 2013, 08: PM
Perhaps when it goes to print Allan Barclay will write a letter explaining how the 13% pay rise for all councillors, together with the huge rises for some, has been done purely to protect the public from themselves.



Title: Re: And so it goes on....
Post by: Lucy Lass-Tick on April 02, 2013, 09: PM
Quote from: DRiddle on April 02, 2013, 08: PM
Perhaps when it goes to print Allan Barclay will write a letter explaining how the 13% pay rise for all councillors, together with the huge rises for some, has been done purely to protect the public from themselves.

It is surely seen by Mr Barclay as an act of kindness, since we are deemed to need saving from ourselves; after all, we are known for our tendency to hurl chairs around like party-going toddlers chucking jelly at the wall ....  ;)



Title: Re: And so it goes on....
Post by: SRMoore on April 02, 2013, 09: PM
So one week we have the leading Labour figures standing on the steps of the Civic Centre telling the 'poor and vulnerable' that the evil Tories are cutting benefits, jobs and services whilst writing millionaires a cheque; then this week they are to accept a 300% increase in allowance for their leader.

Solidarity Comrades!
Title: Re: And so it goes on....
Post by: fred c on April 02, 2013, 09: PM
How Very Dare You........ I am not a Toddler, But i do admit to Throwing Jelly at the wall.

Not sure about another letter from Geds mate...........

OXO = Beef Stock

KNORR = Chicken Stock

Geds m8 = Laughing Stock
Title: Re: And so it goes on....
Post by: Lucy Lass-Tick on April 02, 2013, 09: PM
Quote from: fred c on April 02, 2013, 09: PM
How Very Dare You........ I am not a Toddler, But i do admit to Throwing Jelly at the wall.

Not sure about another letter from Geds mate...........

OXO = Beef Stock

KNORR = Chicken Stock

Geds m8 = Laughing Stock

Mea culpa  ;D (an ancient form of panettone, should we have enough tins)  ;)
Title: Re: And so it goes on....
Post by: tankerville on April 03, 2013, 07: AM
WE AINT PAYING A SINGLE PENNY...Councillor Angela Willcox statement to the LABOUR masses outside the Civic Centre.
It does not seem right somehow, in fact it makes this town a laughing stock, Sorry Fred.
Title: Re: And so it goes on....
Post by: SRMoore on April 03, 2013, 08: AM
One does worry when the person in charge of delivering a publicly funded debt advice service is suggesting that those affected by this benefit cut should refuse to 'pay a penny'. This type of statement may make a brilliant soundbite but it will result in a problem with rent arrears, further debt problems and ultimately homelessness after being evicted.
Title: Re: And so it goes on....
Post by: steveL on April 03, 2013, 09: AM
Is Angie in charge of a debt advice service? That can't be so, surely. If it is , then its one step too far into a parallel universe . . .
Title: Re: And so it goes on....
Post by: rabbit on April 03, 2013, 10: AM
I am not a supporter of our Town Council, and I dare say if the councillors` pay was increased to match the average of the other
North East towns, we could see little benefit on performance.

But as the old saying goes,

If you pay people peanuts, you get monkeys.

Q.E.D.
Title: Re: And so it goes on....
Post by: fred c on April 03, 2013, 01: PM
Quote from: rabbit on April 03, 2013, 10: AM
I am not a supporter of our Town Council, and I dare say if the councillors` pay was increased to match the average of the other
North East towns, we could see little benefit on performance.

But as the old saying goes,

If you pay people peanuts, you get monkeys.

Q.E.D.

I think you will find HBC does not pay "Peanuts".......... Witness the elevated Income of Cab only this week....... CEO salary approx £150,000.... Directors salary approx £130,000 Various Deputy Directors approx £87,000..... Deputy CEO approx £80,000.

If your comments are directed towards elected councillors, i have to say there are extremely competent councillors in the various groups, & it is misleading to Tar all councillors with "The Mobs" Brush.

Title: Re: And so it goes on....
Post by: rabbit on April 03, 2013, 03: PM
The pay review was for Councillors , not Chief Executive Officers and other senior permanent staff.

Yes, there will be some good councillors amongst the total 33. And these ones may well justify an increase in their allowance towards the regional average. But the 33 as a whole, I won`t hold my breath.

The link to the Mail article now seems to be working

http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/local/panel-recommends-allowance-rise-1-5543137