When I was first elected on to Wigan Council in 2004 I was horrified what the food and drinks bill, which was over £60,000. The last time I enquired it was nearer to £70,000. The meals range from Cllrs eating before a meeting to organised events.
I have always been against this. The reason is that Cllrs get an allowance, not expenses - they get them on top if they want, I have never claimed a penny in expenses. To me if someone goes to work they have to take a packed lunch or money to buy a meal, so why should Cllrs be any different?
Finally, the Council are stopping free food and drink after 5pm, which is a large number of meetings, so this will reduce the bill for free food and drink, which I welcome. Meetings taking place during the day will continue to get free food and drinks for Cllrs who attend and want them. Again there is nothing stopping Cllrs taking a packed lunch or nipping into the Town Centre to grab a bite to eat. Plus not many Cllrs are there for 7 hours a day. A meeting will only last a few hours.
I will continue to be against free food and drink during the day and hopefully we can get them stopped too.
I can assure you, Gareth, that if I lived in Standish you'd certainly get my vote.
ReplyDeleteBut I don't. Sorry!
gud on you
ReplyDeleteWith his arrogant and abusive comments Lord Smith has demonstrated his complete disregard for democracy and the voters who elected Councillor Fairhurst.
ReplyDeleteOver the years Smith has presided over a series of blunders and catastrophes' that have cost the Borough's taxpayers £millions.
• The failed A5225 road to nowhere.
• The failed "congestion charge scheme".
• The failed "Chinamex scheme".
• The failed "Schools for the future privatisation scheme".
• The £50 million private finance Wigan Life Centre scheme that has put us in debt for the next forty years
• Draconian cuts in our public services.
• Sacking thousands of workers.
• Employing people on Zero hour contracts.
• Closing our local swimming pools, libraries and day care centre's.
• Closing our special schools.