Highly Paid Council Officers
What an absolute mess the Labour leadership on Caerphilly Council got themselves into over the “fat cat” pay rises for top managers.
They had to be dragged kicking and screaming into firstly making an apology for this debacle and then promising they will investigate rescinding the decision to award increases of up to 30%.
I notice they will seek independent legal advice but I don’t want to see this dragged out for months on end. Let’s have a special meeting and sort it out quickly and restore some credibility to the council.
This shambles has been a massive embarrassment and has damaged the reputation of the local authority, something Plaid worked hard to build up.
If I had still been leader of the council, this would have not happened. I hope I’m more sensitive to the circumstances that many people find themselves in because of the economic situation with rising food, energy prices and job insecurity.
If a report had been prepared on these rises when I was leader, I would have dumped it in the waste bin immediately because the pay hikes proposed are simply outrageous, especially when ordinary council workers have had their pay frozen for three years.
This whole episode clearly shows a Labour leadership out of touch with what’s happening out there in the big, wide world. They need to wake up and smell the coffee.
These increases must be rescinded – and there must be no pussy-footing around.
Charity Shops
I’m totally opposed to proposals which, if brought in, would reduce business rate relief to 50 per cent for some charity shops in Wales, as well as limiting relief to just one charity in a given area or town centre. It would be disastrous.
A total of 700 people work in Welsh charity shops backed up by 9,000 volunteers who do a fantastic job. In addition, more than £12m is raised for charity across the nation from these shops.
If Welsh Government ever implemented these proposals it would mean shop closures and less money for charities. I can understand the concerns of local traders about the relief given to charities but cutting rates relief back would only lead to more empty premises in already struggling town centres.
In an ideal world I’d love to see all the shops filled by thriving local businesses – sadly that is not going to happen.
Lindsay Whittle
Plaid Cymru AM for South Wales East
But wasn't it Plaid who heralded the use of internal promotions and re-arrangement of senior posts to save money on recruitment costs. It is these cheaper options who are asking for extra salary as a 'loyalty' bonus but isn't a senior officer about to leave for a high paid post elsewhere? I think this situation would have happened whatever party was in power – I am not surprised by the attitude of senior executives who think their efforts are worth more than other staff but I am still shocked by the effrontery shown by the Caerphilly senior team.
I agree with Lindsay, I can never understand why salaries at a senior level in Local Government are so high. I`ve spent my whole working life in the private sector, and can see no comparison with the rewards in Local Government as compared to the private sector, they are the untouchables, no one gets sacked for mistakes or poor performance, and in Caerphilly they even get to set their own salaries. Unlike in the private sector Senior Local Government Officers do not have to answer to their shareholders, in this case us the Council Tax Payer, perhaps we should have a review system each year, so they can justify their salaries and have the Officers stand for election, or have performance related pay. Sack the lot, and get people who will do the job for sensible money.
Lindsay says "If I had still been leader of the council, this would have not happened".
But he WAS leader of the council last March when the issue of senior officers' pay should have been decided! Why did he wuss making the decision then, and kick it into the long grass for Labour to deal with?
And if he thinks Labour has got this wrong, why did his party's representative on the council senior remuneration committee NOT vote against the pay rises? Typical Nats – say one thing, do another…
I Think that the wage that AM members are paid is far too much it's at least DOUBLE the wage of a qualified Nurse.
Lets remember Plaid turned a blind eye on many occasions .
As in sacking the lot and getting someone willing to do the job for less I totally agree and this goes for the well overpaid AM Members too.
I agree whole heartily with Lindsay Whittle and believe him when he writes that,
"If a report had been prepared on these rises when I was leader, I would have dumped it in the waste bin"
That is what I would have done too, and is what the secret remuneration committee should have done.
I also agree that this scandal should be sorted quickly and the pay rises cancelled. This will free those senior officers who wish to leave our employ to do so early in the new year. It may also be possible to restore some of the lost ‘Council Tax Support’ paid to the poorest households in the borough. This is to be reduced partly because of a £1.6 to £1.8 Million shortfall; by cancelling these obscene pay rises it should be possible to save around £500,000.
Only six months into their term of office Labour has managed to damage their relationship with the council tax payer, infuriate the bulk of their own councillors and lose the confidence of their own workforce. Quite a spectacular ‘own goal’ which will take a mighty effort to redress. This is not impossible but action needs to be swift and decisive, procrastination will leave Labour weak what ever the good points of their administration may be.
Gez Kirby please check the dates.I gave up being Leader of Council in May 2011 thats over 20 months ago. I am one of a few AM,s who still retain their seats on Council because i think it is important to maintain links with National and Local Government in Wales.
Please note I do NOT claim the £13,000 plus allowance that some AM,s did.
I claim nothing at all from CCBC.
The public will see through what Labour have done,more damage to local government and staff at the offices voted with their feet recently when hundreds walked out in disgust at your partys behaviour.