Monday 17 August 2009

The local authority gravy train

The Journal 17 August 2009 front page headline

Thought MPs were well paid? There are 494 people who have higher salaries in the North east - and YOU are picking up the bill.


There are 97 employees of Durham County Council earning more than £63,291 a year, costing the charge payers £8,284,843 - that's an average of £85,410 each.

18 employees of Durham Police earn £1,436,408 or £79,800 each.

Durham County Council claims that it has had a big reduction in higher earners since it started reorganising.

So why was the gravy train allowed to chug along the tracks for solong?

Monday 3 August 2009

Councillors' pay

Is this the only person in County Durham supporting the rise in councillors' pay?

As published on the Northern Ech website 12:00pm Saturday 1st August 2009 "Have your say" And you can have yours through our comment facility

PERHAPS Durham county councillors could be accused of bad timing, but to describe them as ready “to dip their noses in the trough” over their (now agreed) 20 per cent allowance rise – as did Ralph Hughes (HAS, July 29) – is disingenuous to say the least.

Although some councillors have full-time employment, thus having to fit in a personal life around the pressures of council work and a job, others work full-time as councillors.

Certainly, I cannot see how the leader, deputy leader, cabinet members and chairman of the council can carry out their responsibilities efficiently and effectively and keep an employer happy at the same time.

So how do we expect them to house, feed and clothe themselves and their families?

Anyone who has had any contact with councillors must know that to be a good one requires a lot of time, effort and energy. I know a lot of good ones.

If there is any discussion to be had it should centre on the rationale of fewer councillors being paid at much higher rates so that they can focus fully on the issues of their communities.

Surely I can’t be the only voter who thinks that if you pay peanuts you’ll inevitably get some…
Olwyn Gunn,
Hunwick,
Crook,
Co Durham.