The row over Liverpool council leader Joe Anderson's pay
There is unholy row going on after today's revelation that Liverpool council leader Joe Anderson is to be paid double the wage of his predecessor to reflect he is doing the job full time.
Emails have been flying around behind the scenes.
Below I copy a press release from Libearl Democrat leader Warren Bradley, in response to the council's press release, which I've copied below:
PRESS RELEASE FROM LIVERPOOL LIBERAL DEMOCRATS
For immediate release ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ Tuesday 29 June
Councillor Warren Bradley, the former Leader of Liverpool City Council, now the Leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition has hit out at the doubling of the Leaders allowance at Liverpool City Council.
He said, "Is there a suggestion that I didn't work full-time?????"
"This is an absolute disgrace, what consultation took place, who was interviewed, at a time when the Council staff have to take a pay freeze, unaccountable politicians double their salary - that's the headline."
"Show me where it says the previous Leaders role was based upon a 2.5 day a week role, it doesn't, show me where in the 2007 Act it says the role of the Leader is different to the one I carried out, it doesn't."
"This is a deceitful and poor way to implement such a massive hike in allowance, why wasn't I afforded a comment in the piece or availed with the opportunity to be interviewed by the so called independent panel - this is a sham."
The explanation into where the resource to pay for this is to come from is astounding; the pay rise the Councillors didn't take, that had been taken as a saving in the budget, and the savings from the allowance paid to assistants to the Cabinet members, which had already been allocated to the additional select committee Chairs that Labour introduced at the annual meeting - 5 @ ã9600; the Council were told by the Treasurer 'double counting' isn't allowed; a little like the Labour Government and the country's economy, Labour locally can do anything they want?
"A taste of things to come, the Council press office are now being bullied by this oppressive regime to issue releases full of untruths, welcome back to the 1980's!!!!!!!!"
Militants is alive and kicking in Liverpool, with Cllr Anderson at the helm.
Press release from Liverpool City Council's Newscentre
For immediate release Tuesday 29 June 2010
Liverpool to have full-time leader
AN INDEPENDENT panel is recommending that the position of Leader of Liverpool City Council is officially made full-time.
Previously the post has been classed as a part time role, with the allowance based on a 2.5 day week.
A review - carried out by the Independent Panel on Members' Allowances - proposes it becomes a five day a week position and the current special responsibility allowance is raised from ã21,049 to ã42,100 to reflect the increased responsibilities and the amount of work involved.
The Panel reached the decision after considering:
÷ The allowances for Leaders in other similar cities including Manchester, Birmingham Leeds and Nottingham
÷ New governance arrangements under the Local Government Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, adopted in Liverpool in December 2009 and effective from May 2010, which mean the Leader is elected for a fixed term of four years
÷ The other responsibilities of the Leader, including chairing the City Region Cabinet and taking the lead on housing and business enterprise at the city council
The amount spent on allowances overall will be about the same in 2010/11 as in 2009/10.
A report to be considered by the next meeting of the city council, the Panel states that the change is "essential to recognise the weight of responsibility and the very long hours that the position by definition demands".
Council leader Joe Anderson said: "It is a great privilege to lead the city, and the role brings with it a huge amount of responsibility which requires total dedication and commitment.
"I always said I would be a full time leader, and I am pleased that the panel are of the same view and are making this recommendation.
"It enables me to focus completely on dealing with the numerous complex challenges that we are facing.
"Whether it's the budget, improving housing, bringing investment into the city or addressing major health issues, this is a full time job that demands a full time leader.
"Anything less is simply not good enough for the people of Liverpool.
"Although my allowance will increase, I will not be any better off financially than I was as Leader of the Opposition because I have given up my previous full time job."
The recommendation will be considered by the next full meeting of the city council on July 21.
If approved, the allowance will be backdated to the annual meeting on May 25.
ENDS
7 Comments
Leave a comment
Dale Street Associates
David Bartlett
City editor of the Post and Echo covering politics, regeneration, and urban affairs.
Read My Posts »
I can understand their anger. But why didn't the Lib Dems get someone to count to ten, proof-read their press release and present it in a professional manner???? It beggars belief??!!!!
Reading between the lines of the astonishing and uncouth outburst from Warren Bradley, I draw the following unhappy conclusion. Bradley needs more help than he realises. He needs a lot of help at this point in his life. He should seek it, soon. His colleagues need to point the direction before matters get out of hand.
cant see what the fuss is about, Mr Anderson is giving up his job in sefton , so there is a saving to taxpayers there - id have the con dems would be pleased with that
councillors bradley had a full time job if i recall whilst leader of the council- logically therefore he couldnt be called a full time council leader-where is he coming from on that
Why is any of this a surprise? Joe Anderson has said for at least a couple of years that he would be a full time leader. He even offered support for Warren Bradley to become a full time leader when he argued the case for it. Once again the level of debate around the value of public service is reduced to a slanging match over the amount politicians receive. What hope is there of persuading the electorate that there is value in making sure that the few who are willing to do their civic duty receive a fair days pay for a fair days work when the opposition leader is running around like a mad man screeching about deceit? If Joe Anderson does a decent job because he is able to concentrate on it full time then that is to everyone's benefit.
A huge number of people in Liverpool have been calling for a full time leader for many years. Business lobby groups have been calling for a full time leader since 2005. Every other major city has a leader who is full time - ie, they don't have any other job.
Mr Bradley asks if people are saying he didn't work full time. Warren - no, you didn't work full time as leader of the council, because you were spending a lot of time getting cats out of trees!
This Lib Dem press release is also incredibly shoddy work. It hardly makes any sense. But reading it, you are sort of left with a sense of how disorientated and confused Warren Bradley and the Lib Dems are right now.
I wonder if the 20 who voted for him are still all convinced they backed the right horse, when that horse is so obviously cracking up and losing his marbles.
OMG! How shoddy is Warren Bradley's press release? Why didn't he get someone to check and correct the syntax, grammar and punctuation to make it look at least presentable?
Cant Warren get a decent spin-doctor to do his writing for him? That Jon Brown fella was quite close to him before - or is he too busy now with more domestic matters?