Bassetlaw councillors claim 'value for money'

By jpeck

THE amount of allowances and expenses paid to each councillor has been revealed by Bassetlaw District Council.

The list, published in the Retford Times last week, shows a total of over £350,000 was paid to 52 elected representatives on Bassetlaw District Council over a 12-month period.

The table shows the highest earner is Council Leader Mike Quigley, who was paid £22,129 for the municipal year 2008/9.

He says councillors do not enter local politics for the financial reward.

"None of us are in it for the money," said Coun Quigley.

"If you take into account the amount of time spent at meetings and dealing with enquiries by phone, on my doorstep and walking down the street, we are probably paid under the hourly rate for UK workers.

"If you weigh up all of those duties, I believe I am extremely good value for money as a councillor."

Coun Quigley added that he thinks young people aspiring to be councillors could be put off the role because of the pay.

Labour Group leader Coun Graham Oxby said he and his party colleagues do not quibble with the amount councillors are paid.

"The rates are set by a renumeration panel and our policy is to accept its recommendations - good, bad or indifferent," he said.

Asked if he thought he was a value-for-money councillor, Coun Oxby said: "That is not for me to judge – that is for the public to decide.

"It is a seven day-a-week job, you're never off duty.

"I try to deal with any enquiry quickly and courteously and if I can't deal with it then, I endeavour to do it as soon as possible."

Sturton's Independent councillor, Hugh Burton, said the pay was the right amount.

"It's just about right," he said. "The leaders of the council do a little bit more but I think the rest of us are covered adequately.

"I do quite a bit of travelling for meetings and I am happy with what I am paid.

"Independents are able to give a good service as we are not tied down to any party policies or told what to do, we can concentrate more on our wards."