Row as council members ask for more cash
COUNCILLORS have come under fire after asking for an increase in their petrol allowance while front-line services face massive cuts.
Tory Waterlooville Councillors Robin McIntosh and Ian Beagley made a written submission to an independent pay panel at Hampshire County Council. They said the 40p per mile rate was ‘unrealistic’. Last year members voted to give themselves the choice of claiming a mileage rate of anything between 53.8p and 40p – while cutting the 53p per mile claimed by thousands of staff to 40p.
Cllr Beagley said mileage rates should be based on the ‘true costs of running a car’ which he said increase steadily every year. He told the panel: ‘Despite the widespread misunderstanding, the 40p/m figure is not a recommended mileage allowance but merely the figure at which HMRC chooses to level tax on mileage allowances. It is thoroughly out of date, having been in existence at the same level for 19 years.
‘If inflation over that period is applied, then 40p becomes 64p which remarkably is the same figure that the AA calculate to be the cost per mile of running a medium sized car today.’
Cllr Beagley added: ‘There is no reason why members should accept an artificially low figure and thereby subsidise travel connected with carrying out their duties.’
But Lib Dem Leigh Park Cllr Ann Buckley told The News: ‘I feel the 40p is more than adequate. I think they are being unrealistic.’ Members on the allowances panel backed the recommendation for a single 40p rate for all 78 councillors. A final decision will be made this week.
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Comments
There are 13 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
bigchill
Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at 12:53 AMFor the year just gone Mr. Beagley received almost £15,000 in allowance and £1317 in mileage reimbursement. Mr. McIntosh received £23,657 in allowance and £1277 in mileage reimbursement. Sorry to hear that this is such a struggle for them. I'm sure there are more community-minded individuals who would be happy to replace them. Don't fret, gentlemen, as you can stand down at the next election, or sooner, and then will only need to take the car out for a trip down to your local Conservative Club. Cheers.
mrlibertine
Monday, February 21, 2011 at 06:29 PMWow, what self serving parasites. Essentially they are asking frontline workers who are facing a 3rd year of real wage cuts to subsidise their expenses. Mr McIntosh has just lost my vote, and I will be doing my utmost to encourage others to vote elsewhere too.
akaapollo
Monday, February 21, 2011 at 06:25 PMwell if they have that much off a problem perhaps the could petion the goverment to lower taxes on fuel then we ALL can benifit !
liverpoolboy
Monday, February 21, 2011 at 05:07 PMYou are right there Bladesblue.The I'm alright Jack brigade are back.
In Dobbo We Trust
Monday, February 21, 2011 at 12:24 PMWhat ever happened to the concept of leading by example? By signing off strategic transport plans they support policies that call for an improvement of "green" modes of transport. For example, a shift to electric cars or public transport and the move away from a dependency on traditional cars. So instead, they visit their constituents in a medium size car and then complain they don't get enough to run it. Practice and preach come to mind.
bladesblue
Monday, February 21, 2011 at 12:23 PMPresume the workers are being restricted in refund of expenses as well as taking hefty pay cuts. Therefore there is plenty in the pot for the Elected Representatives to have a rise and also extra compensation for attending, or not, meetings.
The Bean Counter
Monday, February 21, 2011 at 11:58 AMThese idiots just don't get it, do they? They are supposed to be undertaking this role for reasons other than the pay and perks and operating in a value for money environment, which does not mean a brand new car every year or so operating on unleaded. I'd also like to know if they use their vehicles for anything other than business............The 64p per mile they quote is based on an unleaded car worth £12k undertaking 5,000 business miles ONLY. If they drive 10,000 miles per year for any purposes then the rate per the AA is 43p per mile (40p if diesel)............In any case, public transport would represent much more "value for money" if they are only doing 5,000 business miles per year, or even a car rental for longer, trickier trips.
Shaun Cunningham
Monday, February 21, 2011 at 09:43 AMCouncillors not only get a mileage allowance but also a very nice general allowance. They can even claim for their internet connection, and many have. One time local Councillors wanted to service not for financial gain but because they genuinely wanted to assistance their communities. Now in many cases it’s become a full paid job, and they have the affront not to pay any attention at all to want their communities are telling them, I would like to add not all of them act in that manner, there are some very good servicing councillors.
griffon
Monday, February 21, 2011 at 08:42 AMCouncillors across Hampshire got over £7 million last year in allowances and expenses.One from Eastleigh got £55,000. Parliament are deciding whether to cut MPs by 10% and should do the same for councillors. Many are retired and on comfortable pensions and have time to spare. Cameron's wants the rest of us to volunteer while councillors cut our funding. Another job for Eric the Axeman.
LI 150
Monday, February 21, 2011 at 08:28 AMCar running costs have increased but the councillors should not be allowed to claim a higher rate than the level they set for staff members - if the cap fits............
David Morford
Monday, February 21, 2011 at 08:26 AMThe 40p per mile for business use of a private vehicle was intorduced in tax year 200203. The intnetion of the 40p was to cover the cost of fuel, cost of insurance, cost of maintenance and depreciation. That was when the average cost of a litre of petrol was 79p. Today, the average cost of petrol is 130p, the cost of insurance has increased by 50%, maintenance costs have increased and the second hand car value has dropped. I have written to the tresuary and recieved a non-comittal pathetic response that they have no intention of doing anything about it yet my cost of using MY car on company or related BUSINESS has doubled in 9 years yet the alowance hasnt moved. Its about time us private car users did something about it. For once I actually agreed with the councillors.
Zikke
Monday, February 21, 2011 at 08:23 AMSadly, spyglass, this is a typical response from our elected representatives! Just look at what Cameron is suggesting today, privatising our basic services such as health and schools in the same vein as the Tories privatised the utility companies with a detrimental effect on the consumer and a wonderfully lucrative effect on the private companies and their shareholders! I am a LA employee, not for much longer though, as redundancy looms :( I have been claiming the HMRC rate for years and it doesn't reflect the cost of running my car, the choice of which is mine! I thought that any reimbursement over 40p was taxable, so am guessing that these particular councillors do not pay tax? The alternative Mr Councillors is to use public transport - or is that too expensive since privatisation??!! I tried to do this, but it cost £9.60 for a 20 mile round trip bus fare. Another Monday starts...........silly season every week methinks!!
spyglass
Monday, February 21, 2011 at 08:06 AMmight i suggest that the burghers of waterlooville make a note of the money grabbing councillors names so that when the next local elections come they can show their displeasure by kicking them out. once more unto the trough dear politicians, once more!!!
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