Leeds councillors face cut to special allowances

Leeds council leader Keith Wakefield has announced that an allowance paid to senior councillors would be cut by three per cent in the coming year in light of government cuts. Special responsibility allowance is paid to those members of the council who have significant additional responsibilities over and above the generally accepted duties of a councillor, such chairing committees, boards and panels and all political group leaders. The cut applies to annual allowances over £7,000. The move came as Liberal Democrat leader Stewart Golton demanded justification for the £23,000 move which will see the leader of the Morley Borough Independent Party, Robert Finnigan, take up a non-voting advisory role on the council's powerful executive board. Golton said now was not the right time for the council to prioritise funding for new positions on its own boards. Council leader Keith Wakefield accused Golton of trivialising the issue and told him to come up with some constructive ideas for saving money. He said: "The council is facing unprecedented budget challenges this year and it is essential that members of the council's political parties are fully engaged in the debate about how the council addressed the budget reductions we face. It is only fair that all members of the board get parity for the contribution they make to such important decisions. "My colleagues and I are acutely aware of the importance of ensuring that every penny is well spent - indeed, members of Leeds city council previously agreed a freeze in their allowances and that will continue. "On top of this, members who receive a special responsibility allowance have agreed to a cut of three per cent in their allowances next year. "Whle this will not get us close to the £90 million we need to save next year, I hope it sends a message to the public that members fully appreciate their own small personal contirbution to meeting the spending challenge." Leeds council said today that it didn't yet have a confirmed savings figure for the cuts. What do you think? Have your say in the comments section below.