Council leader wants to cut back on expensive meetings (From Andover Advertiser)
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Council leader wants to cut back on expensive meetings
3:00pm Friday 11th January 2013 in Winchester
Council leader wants to cut back on expensive meetings
CIVIC chiefs in Winchester want to cut back on the costs of council meetings, after suggestions they can be costly with just “a small amount of business done”.
The matter was raised at a recent (January 9) meeting at the Guildhall by councillor Harry Verney.
Mr Verney said: “Given the small amount of business done at the last meeting, does the council think this was a good use of the tax payer's money?”
Council bosses revealed that the cost of that December meeting was £3,160.
More than £1,000 was spent printing on papers, while a further £1,000 was spent on 'arranging the meeting, communicating the meeting and producing minutes.”
Council leader Keith Wood said: “The question is valid one.If we're going to get 50-plus officers here for an agenda with one item on it, that seems excessive.”
He also said he was hoping to reduce the number of meetings and that there had been no objections from party leaders.
However Lib Dem Kelsie Learney said it was important to recognise that there is “an intrinsic cost to democracy.”
Comments(6)
wackyracer
says...
3:37pm Fri 11 Jan 13
winchester resident
says...
8:37pm Sun 13 Jan 13
ReverendPaul wrote:I didn't think they got paid at all????....just received a taxable allowance to cover expenses of around £5k?
Maybe another way of reducing money would be for stopping free parking for elected representatives, as they get well paid so the freebies need to be removed and they should pay for parking like the rest of the people in the area and also Visitors. In this day and age do agendas need printing and posting at council expenses -as they can be emailed to councillors direct- saving more money and also the carbon footprint
campfreddie
says...
9:57am Mon 14 Jan 13
There certainly is. Ms Learney pulled in over £14,400 in expenses last year alone!
huckit P
says...
9:03pm Mon 14 Jan 13
Even emailing previous minutes would cost a pittance.
The trouble is that the gravy train that is most local government has been running out of control for so long it will be extremely difficult to slow it down to an acceptable level.
Serving as a councillor was at one time a position held by someone for the benefit of the general public. Now it is seen as a way of making money and having a good time at the expense of the taxpayer.
ascapola
says...
2:16pm Thu 17 Jan 13
Also, Hampshire Chronicle; this is a pretty poor article. What was the meeting about and why did 50+ officers have to attend? A one item meeting might be important or it might not...
ReverendPaul says...
3:33pm Fri 11 Jan 13