News from Westminster Labour

Labour welcomes scrutiny of Westminster councillors’ allowances

Labour Councillors have welcomed the decision of Westminster City Council’s Finance Scrutiny Committee to launch inquiries into Councillors’ allowances, Senior Staff bonuses (which last year totalled £5.8 million) and the Council’s £3.2 million a year spending on press and communications. The inquiries will be held at the 22nd September meeting of the Committee.

Labour say that, following the recent revelations about MPs expenses, it is vital that the Council has an open and transparent scrutiny of Councillors’ allowances to ensure that Council Tax payers are getting value for money for the £860,000 currently spent on allowances. In addition, the revelation that the Council spent £5.8 million on bonuses to senior staff (up from £5.1 million the previous year) had shocked many residents, as had the the news that the Council spends over £230,000 a year on private health insurance for senior staff.

Labour say that there also needs to be a searching look into the £3.2 million a year spent on press oficers, glossy magazines and public relations events at a time when the Council is in a financial crisis following the £17 million investment in now-failed Icelandic Banks and is sacking over 300 staff.

Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, Leader of the Labour Group, said:

“We are delighted that the Finance Scrutiny Committee has agreed to these three inquiries. We hope that the Committee will seek evidence from as wide a field of interests as possible so that local residents and groups have the opportunity to have their say.”

Other news from Westminster Labour

• Twelve questions for the next Leader of Westminster Council - 10 February 2012
• Westminster Council joint bottom of London league for Adult Social Care - 6 February 2012
• Westminster Labour calls for an 'outbreak of democracy' over election of new council Leader - 2 February 2012