Fear and Greed at the County Council

I am surprised and disappointed by the decision taken at the County Council last week to give double digit increases in allowances to the Leader and Cabinet Members, while holding the remuneration of backbenchers to the 1% increase currently ‘enjoyed’ by the officers of the council.

At a time when officers are being asked to take pay increases that fall well below inflation such a move seems wrong.  Apparently the higher allowances were recommended by an independent panel, which has looked at other councils and found the level of payments at Suffolk to be below average.  However, we are not talking about a marketplace here, and councillors can hardly jump ship and go elsewhere if they are dissatisfied with their lot.  Moreover, it is not as though there is a shortage of people wanting to take on the jobs of the current Cabinet.  Many very well qualified and, some might say, far more appropriate people are waiting in the wings.

I am pleased to say that at least a few Conservatives were prepared to abstain.  However I understand that this was a risky choice since it was decided that the vote should be subject to a ‘whip’.  It frankly seems unsavoury to me to force party members to vote in favour of higher  remuneration for some of their number (including those wielding the whip) when an unwhipped vote has generally been the norm in the past on crucial policy matters relating to the Fire Service, Education and Adult Care.

At the same meeting I understand that a decision was made to axe the free shuttle bus that is used by staff wishing to go into the centre of Ipswich at lunch time.  This seems another ill-considered move, particularly since the service was paid for out of car parking payments made by the staff themselves.   Fortunately Ipswich Borough Council has come to the rescue and is going to pay for the service.  Good for them.

Officers of the council work hard and have had to put up with a much increased work load in recent years as the number of people working at the council has been reduced.  Councillors need to maintain good relations with their officers and work comfortably alongside them to get policies through.  When the future looks ever more uncertain and the need for further cuts is on the cards, now is not the time to provoke justified resentment.