Debate: Should Oxfordshire County Council consider increasing its members’ allowances?

Nick Carter, cabinet member for business and customer services

It doesn’t take a genius to realise that this is not an ideal time to consider increasing the allowances that are paid to county councillors.
Many people would say such a move would be inappropriate. Others, though, would say that there is never a good time to consider this subject. And an independent panel of arbitrators has recommended that it is, indeed, time to address a historic imbalance in the way that democracy works in our county.
The panel voiced concern that, compared with other county councils in the South, the allowance paid to Oxfordshire members has been at the bottom of the league for too long.
It recommended increasing the basic allowance from £8,300 to £10,000, along with increases in the allowances for cabinet members and committee chairmen. This increase would still leave Oxfordshire in the bottom quarter of the league, so we’re not talking about gold-plating.
The current allowance in Buckinghamshire is £10,700, and in Wiltshire it’s £12,200.
The panel’s report said: “We consider our recommendations to be appropriate to the roles actually performed by county councillors in the service of the people of Oxfordshire and that they would be a more realistic encouragement to wider representation, particularly ahead of the May 2017 elections.”
That last point is an important one. Many councillors seem to be retired and can rely on their pensions to supplement their allowances. 
The number of members below that age is pretty small, but more young people need to be encouraged to stand for election.
My own work as a cabinet member comes on top of the role that I play as the elected county councillor for the Thame and Chinnor area. Altogether it is a very full-time occupation, seven days a week, and it is one that I’m passionate about.
I try hard to ensure that I make a difference both to the lives of my electors in particular, and to the welfare of the county in general.
I obviously don’t do it for the money, but I couldn’t do it without some money. Having put my business life on hold in order to take up a cabinet appointment, I need to contribute to the bills without relying completely on my wife to subsidise my political life.

NO

John Christie, Deputy leader of the Labour Group

The Independent Remuneration panel has recommended 19 per cent increases in allowances for county councillors and 25 per cent for cabinet members. This is not the right time to implement such large increases.
Although I do not support the increase at this time, I can think of three main arguments why the county council should accept the recommendation on December 9. First, the panel has carried out a thorough independent review and therefore arguably the council should accept the findings. Second, allowances paid to Oxfordshire councillors are significantly below those of similar councils and it appears fair to increase them.
Third, allowances should in general be sufficient to attract potential candidates for election on low income or benefits and to properly compensate people in work for time given to council work.
I accept these arguments in principle but cannot agree that the council should vote for these increases in the current economic climate for the following reasons.
The council has been forced by Government cuts in grant and tight limits on council tax increases to make huge reductions in vital services. It faces further difficult cuts next year and the years after.
Council staff have suffered wage freezes for years and are limited to a one per cent increase next year. Oxfordshire residents have seen a real terms cut in income compared to inflationary price increases year on year. Essential, deserved benefits have been cut for low paid, unemployed or disabled people, while the wealthy have fared better.
I cannot see how the council can justify any increases in allowances while public services are being cut, while there is no sustained real growth benefiting the lowest paid, and while we do not have a fair system where local government can make policy decisions and raise fair taxes according to local need.
I am glad the county council has joined with 114 other councils in telling the Government and all party leaders that the cuts forced upon local government have been disproportionate and damaging, and in calling for devolution of more decision making powers and a fairer realistic local government finance system.
Until that happens, and the economy is fully recovered, then the council should accept the panel’s proposals in principle but defer any implementation.