Extraordinary Meeting of Council to Discuss Councillors Allowances Unnecessary Waste of Public Money says Lib Dems

The leader of the Lib Dem group on Wiltshire Council has blasted as irresponsible and unconsidered the demands made by independent councillors for a Extraordinary Meeting of Wiltshire Council to be held to discuss councillors allowances.

The demand, where five independent councillors have written to the Chairman of the Council calling for the meeting, means that a special meeting of the council will have to be organised and staffed at considerable expense.

Speaking about the special meeting Cllr Jon Hubbard commented "This is an example of all that is bad about politicians. Yes, most reasonable people think the decision made by Wiltshire Council about councillor's allowances was inappropriate, myself included. Indeed, so angry were some that a countywide petition has been started and appears to be getting considerable support.

"It was for this reason that I had already approached the Leader of the Council and requested her support for allowing a debate on the petition when it was presented to Council. I understand from what I have read in the media that this is planned for February. After we had discussed the matter and I had made my case I was delighted that the Leader agreed to support a short debate on this.

"This is grown up politics. Having informed and sensible discussions and ensuring that a public debate can be held in a timely fashion. Not throwing your toys out of the cot and demanding an Extraordinary Meeting of the Council, costing tens of thousands of pounds of public money, just weeks before there is due to be a meeting anyhow.

"This is why people have such a low opinion of those who are involved in politics. I note that this is also the same Independent Group that wheeled out one of their members to the press on the days following the original debate to support the increases.

"As usual from the Independents we are seeing the worst form of grandstanding politics - where they are more interested in headlines than hard work".