Why some turkeys might vote for Christmas
The recent excitement over councillors who struggle to pay their council tax because, allegedly, they try to serve their constituents on a full-time basis for only £12,000 a year has come at the same time as the launch of to decide on an appropriate allowance, post next year's elections.
So for the next 12 months we can expect more tedious grand-standing and juvenile parading of hair-shirts, as councillors effectively offer themselves for the lowest tender (knowing that the review will recommend an increase anyway.) Sometimes politics is predictable and boring.
So how do you think the public would respond if Cornwall's political classes began campaigning to reduce the number of Cornwall councillors? The present number, 123, was arrived at in 2008 following an which the Commission itself felt was less than satisfactory.
The then chairman of the Implementation Executive, former county council leader David Whalley, had proposed a maximum number of 90 members and suggested a basic annual allowance of £18,000 for each. His ideas were thwarted by former district councillors who were, naturally, strongly opposed to their own abolition.
But does anyone think it would now be politically unpopular to advocate a reduction in the number of councillors, while maintaining the total remuneration pot at its present size - so, for example, a halving in the number of councillors could lead to a doubling of allowances paid to the rest?
This is of course a political question, as it would almost certainly redefine the sort of person seeking election to the council: over time, reducing the number of elderly and comfortably-off part-timers and encouraging a younger, more politically-motivated class of full-time local politician.
I have no idea whether this would lead to better or worse local services. But it would make it more difficult for the County Hall bureaucracy to routinely get its own way, and to that extent, would be more democratic.
And those who seek to spend our money could have no possible excuse for not paying their own taxes.
I'm ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Devon’s Graham Smith, blogging on news, views and some fresh insights into West Country life, particularly the way government works locally and nationally.
Comment number 1.
At 23rd Jan 2012, backofanenvelope wrote:"encouraging a younger, more politically-motivated class of full-time local politician."
Look where that has got us at Westminster. Hundreds of politicians who have never done a days work in their miserable lives. And the economy in a shambles.
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Comment number 2.
At 23rd Jan 2012, superale wrote:"And those who seek to spend our money could have no possible excuse for not paying their own taxes." - especially if 10 monthly payments to cover their council tax was removed by the council before they received the relevant month allowance.
Seems we are still having difficulty in ascertaining if Councillor (for how long) Folkes receives Council Tax and Housing benefit.
Harold Wilson was famous for saying a week was a long time in politics and, presumably, Councillor Folkes is hoping the heat will die down and he won't have to answer that question if he hangs on much longer as the topical blog report changes and the old one drops to the "more from this blog" box!!
The same as trying to find out as to whether Councillor Folkes did vote for any matter relating to Council Tax whilst he was avoiding it himself?
"encouraging a younger, more politically-motivated class of full-time local politician." I totally agree with "backofanenvelope" on this one!!
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