Blackpool Councillor's Allowances

The Council’s allowance schemes, it has herein been reproduced with some comments.

Special responsibility allowance

4.1 In addition to the basic allowance, the following allowances can be paid to those

councillors who hold the following special responsibilities:

£ per annum

Leader 20,998.15

Deputy Leader 11,999.11

Cabinet Member 5,998.98

Cabinet Assistant 3,750.09

Chairman: Policy, Overview & Scrutiny Management Committee 5,998.98

Chairmen: Development Control, Licensing, Employment and Appeals, Audit, all Overview & Scrutiny Committees and Sub-Committees, Public Protection Sub-Committee

4,500.10

MEMBERS ALLOWANCES SCHEME - PART 6

Part 6/4 19/07/10

Vice-Chairman: Policy, Overview & Scrutiny Management Committee.

3,000.06

Vice-Chairmen: Development Control, Licensing, Employment and Appeals, Audit, all Overview & Scrutiny Committees and Sub-Committees, Public Protection Sub-Committee.

2,250.05

Licensing Committee members 1,125.02

Development Control Committee members 1,125.02

Leader of Principal Opposition 5,248.97

Leader of Second Opposition 2,625.06

Deputy Leader of Principal Opposition 2,625.06

4.2 No more than one special responsibility allowance will be paid to a councillor with the exception of the special responsibility allowance for Licensing Committee members.

4.3 School Appeal Panel members may claim for loss of earnings, currently £28.31 (up

to 4 hours) and £56.64 (over 4 hours). Proof is required to support claims made.

5. Telephone allowance

5.1 All councillors are entitled to a telephone allowance, currently £254.59 per year.( Have a look at past expenses and it's strange who claim for the maximum. Why?)

6. ICT allowance

6.1 All councillors are entitled to receive an ICT Allowance, currently £599.78 per year, subject to signing an agreement to adhere to the Council’s Policy on the ICT Allowance for Elected Members.

Why, in this age when package telephone calls cost £6.99 per month, including broadband, do Councillor's get such benevolent expenses especially as most local calls are free? Do not the Councils provide offices for councillors to use?

If you look at ALLOWANCES paid to heads of Committees and the such like, wouldn't it be prudent to inquire if those heads had already retired from employment? If they have, then how can it be claimed as an allowance and not an income? It looks as though the system was instigated by the accountants to Lord Mandelson.

What the hell does ICT allowance mean?