Forum Topic

Hounslow Leader and Cabinet members planning hefty allowance increases for themselves

The Leader of Hounslow Council and members of the Cabinet look set to award themselves hefty increases in the next financial year, despite proposing to put up Council Tax by 5% to make up for the shortfall in budget caused by the pandemic.Councillor Shantanu Rajawat, Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services, is recommending huge increases in their Special Responsibility Allowances, the Chiswick Calendar has learned. All councillors are paid a basic allowance and those who take on extra responsibility are awarded Special Responsibility Allowances (SRA) on top of the basic amount. Those who receive SRA include the Leader, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Members.Steve Curran, as Leader, currently gets a basic allowance of £11,045 plus a Special Responsibility Allowance of £27,200. LB Houslow give his current remuneration as £42,332. Deputy Leader Lily Bath receives £11,045 plus a SRA of £16,000. LB Hounslow give her allowances as £29,586. Cabinet Members such as Hanif Khan (Cabinet Member for Transport) and Cllr Rajawat himself get £11,045 + £12,800. Their allowances are listed as £25,945.The proposals are for the Leader’s SRA to be increased to £40,000, an increase of 47.1%, which added to the basic allowance totals £51,045. The Deputy Leader’s SRA would be increased to £25,000, an increase of 56.3%, allowances totalling £36,045 and a Cabinet Member’s SRA would be increased to £20,000, an increase of 56.3%, allowances totalling £31, 045.Full story here -https://chiswickcalendar.co.uk/hounslow-leader-and-cabinet-members-planning-hefty-salary-increases-for-themselves/?mc_cid=414b1882aa&mc_eid=3a3f5b040bThere is some background to the story but surely now is not  the right time to increase the allowances ?

Mark Perry ● 2073d6 Comments

The point is that people volunteer for these roles, no-one holds a gun to their heads. It's what used to be known as 'civic duty' and which was NOT a remunerated position. Obviously no-one should be excluded by virtue of their financial position, so there is a place for some financial support. But, when it gets to proposals to up the money to telephone numbers there are questions to be asked of people's performance, many councillors are conspicuous by their absence, lack of activity and communication. As you also acknowledge this country has virtually run on volunteer help and support over the last year especially, and much of that work goes on constantly in less stressful times. Apart from any other considerations - now is hardly the time for this thorny subject to be aired. Suggest that before any more chat about money takes place - the council tries sorting itself out so that it is more democratic and less of a personal fiefdom for those at the top. As I understand it the increase proposed is £1000, however, there are a number of councillors who do really need to up their game as they are all but invisible and rarely, if ever, manage to reply to correspondence.

Vanessa Smith ● 2072d

Lets hope they do not backdate their increase six months as they did last time they thought they were underpaid

Paul Fisher ● 2072d

Well we can all ask the LBH Councillors on Thursday at Cabinet question time...details below.https://www.hounslow.gov.uk/news/article/2289/join_budget_question_time_next_week_and_have_your_say

David Riley ● 2072d

Like Vanessa Smith I do not believe in high councillor allowances for what is essentially a voluntary activity. However, I note that in 2009-10, when the Tories ran the council with the backing of the ICG, the then Leader's SRA was £34,000, the Deputy's £20,000 and the Cabinet members' £16,000 apiece.

John Connelly ● 2072d

In 2010 your local councillors voted to take a 10% cut in their allowances to show solidarity with those affected by the recession. From 2010 until 2019 (I think) there were no increases in the councillors's allowances.By 2019 the allowances paid to Hounslow Councillors were seriously out of step with those paid to most London Councillors.The proposed increases are to bring the allowances paid to Hounslow's councillors more in line with those paid by other councils.In 2022 you will have the chance to elect new councillors and therefore a new administration. This is surely the best way to show your frustration with the incompetence and poor performance of the current Labour led administration.What is missing from the equation is a recall mechanism for non-performing councillors. If 1,000 residents sign a petition in favour there should be a local referendum on the need for a recall by-election. Currently the only requirement is that you turn up for at least one meeting every six months.

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 2072d

"By 2019 the allowances paid to Hounslow Councillors were seriously out of step with those paid to most London Councillors."So they should be. As a rotten Borough how can this shower of morons expect to be paid similar to properly run Councils?

Steve Taylor ● 2072d