Pay hikes - voting record published
Ten weeks after the event WC has published the records of the Nov 12th council meeting, where the Conservative administration forced through big pay hikes for leading Conservative councillors.
Opposition councillors called for a number of 'recorded votes' on the proposals. This means that instead of just a show of hands the vote of each councillor is noted separately. The theory is that electors can then hold their councillor to account over their voting record on key issues.
The Council approved a £14,892 pay rise for Conservative leader Jane Scott. The 36.5% rise will make Councillor Scott one of the highest paid council leaders in the country.
Jon Hubbard, leader of the Wiltshire Lib Dems argued that, "It is outrageous that we have seen ... the Conservative leadership at Wiltshire Council receive massive pay rises just after they have made hundreds of staff redundant. 22% for cabinet members and an unbelievable 36.5% rise for the leader.
"Time after time ... we saw opposition councillors try to stop the massive rises for the top Tories, and time after time we saw the Tories vote to block these efforts."
In the council debate one Conservative councillor suggested that the pay increases were justified because of the stress involved in getting rid of so many members of staff.
Even the Conservative party nationally has been disturbed by the rapacity of their Wiltshire councillors - this article grumbles that the WC leader was already on a relatively high rate before the massive hike in her wages.
The voting figures can be found within the minutes published in the agenda for the Feb 4th meeting of council
In summary, 53 votes in favour of the higher payments were cast by 50 Conservatives and 3 Independents. The 29 votes against came from 17 Lib Dems, 6 Independents, 4 Labour, one Conservative and one UKIP. Two Tories abstained.
Conservative councils cost you.
It's not just us - the LGA reports that Somerset County Council has been criticised for spending over £40,000 on a consultation process asking people in Somerset how to save money.
(Daily Star, 21/11/13, Page: 8)