Councillors who claim expenses to cover childcare costs will no longer be listed individually,after the council agreed to amend its reporting scheme.
At a full council meeting held on Tuesday, April 17, councillors agreed to implement changes recommended by the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales – the body responsible for determining the allowances of councillors.
Putting forward the new regime for approval, deputy council leader Barbara Jones explained why the council had decided to not publish individual claims, despite the option being available.
She said: “It is a very sensitive subject. The reason for this decision was to protect people who wouldn’t normally apply for this allowance because of sensitivities.
“There have been a number of issues where people have been named in the newspapers for claiming something they are perfectly entitled to and political capital has been made from this.”
She added that the information would be provided if someone submitted a freedom of information (FOI) request.
Plaid Cymru councillors Teresa Parry and Donna Cushing both voiced their opposition as did independent councillor Nigel Dix.
Cllr Dix told the meeting: “I am just quite astonished really. I believe that as councillors and politicians we claim our allowance in good faith etc, but to deliberately make it difficult for the public to see what we are claiming I think is wrong.
“The public elects us. I can go and find out what my MP’s expenses are, my Assembly Member’s expenses, but you are telling me the only way to find out a councillor’s expenses is to go through the odious process of FOI.
“To me,if you believe in openness, transparency and democracy, you should have no problem coming forward with what you are claiming and be accountable to the public.”
In 2009, Blackwood councillor Kevin Etheridge was criticised for claiming £14,800 childcare costs for his 13-year-old daughter.
It was alleged that Cllr Etheridge had claimed the allowance even though his daughter was looked after by his wife and other members of his family when he was on council duties.
Although Cllr Etheridge had not broken any rules, the council’s then deputy leader Allan Pritchard, of Plaid Cymru, said he was “uneasy” about the care allowance system in place at the time.
Why Why
Think i will stand claim next become a new robin Hood rob the poor pay the rich.
If you believe in openness, transparency and democracy,and be accountable to the public.”
Caerphilly, which is the largest Gwent authority,and paid the highest amount in allowances and expenses, which includes food and travel claims, totalling £1,516,875.59.Councillors are entitled to claim a basic allowance, which is around £13,000 for their work, and some posts are given additional allowances for undertaking extra responsibility as leader, deputy leader, cabinet members or committee chairmen. Mayors and deputy mayors are also paid extra allowances for their civic duties.
Travel expenses are claimed by councillors to cover their transport costs on council business, and food and overnight stays can also be claimed for if councillors are away from their area.
Money is also available to help councillors pay for care for dependent children and adults.
Councillors also receive additional payments if they sit on panels for public bodies including South Wales Fire and Rescue and Gwent Police.
Allowances are calculated by the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales, and councillors can choose to accept or decline the maximum amount it recommends each year.
Once again we see Caerphilly Council fail in their duty to the electorate – so much for your purported openess and transparency.
You have a moral duty to publish all expenses and by not doing so you are prompting the question why you do not want to do this ?
Your “excuse”does not hold water , I’m afraid as a Councillor you must be prepared to accept criticism as you are in the public arena.
If you can’t face honest criticism then you shouldn’t be a Councillor.
It’s no wonder Caerphilly want to continue to “go it alone” and don’t relish merging with other authorities – because you woukd lose your stranglehold on all you do.
Can’t you see that you have mafe yet another wrong decision – even your own Councillors are critical of you.
Absolutely agree with you.
Bloody shame.
Peope who work with me pay their own child care costs. If the Council decides to make this a legitimate reclaimable expense then that information should be public, not hidden.
Just proves the point once in power they automatically become crooks
Labour politicans/ councillors are all the same do as i say not as I do. If the councillors had any respect for the residents of Caerphilly they will all stand down and force an election. Sadly though I fear that the sheep of Caerphilly will blindly follow Labour once more, all because great grandpappy voted Labour.
Why do we pay our council tax for so councillors can rob the tax paying purse.
Councillor Etheridge’s was claiming child/dependant care allowance of £14.800.what faith do we have in Councillors now that they don’t have to tell us of what they claim for.
Mr Tyndall also found Mr Etheridge may have broken the councillors’ code of conduct by paying out of public funds for his in-laws to take a weekend break in Plymouth as a thank-you for looking after his daughter.
The council’s Plaid Cymru council leader Lindsay Whittle and other senior Plaid councillors wrote a letter to the ombudsman praising Mr Etheridge and alleging the complaint against him by former Labour councillor Nigel Dix had been based on “malicious intent”.
Mr Tyndall concluded that the allegation made against Mr Etheridge was “serious” but his “difficult family circumstances” and his resignation led him to find that no further action needed to be taken. But he added: “It should be noted that had former councillor Etheridge’s circumstances been different, I would have referred this matter to the president of the Adjudication Panel for Wales for adjudication by a tribunal.”