I WAS interested to read about the large increase in allowances for Forest of Dean district councillors, and the need to raise council tax by two per cent to cover the costs.
Interesting some of the councillors themselves expressed concern about apparent "freeloaders" riding the "gravy train"
For example; Coun John Harrison-Higgins (Ind. Tidenham) is quoted as saying: "Some councillors are happy drawing the allowances but they aren't putting in the hours. There's a lot of that going on. To them its just a gravy train. We need a system that stops paying members if they aren't pulling their weight."
Coun. Sharon Freeman (Lab. Pillowell) is quoted as replying: "Councillor Harrison-Higgins must be on another planet. I really don't know what he's talking about. It's complete nonsense."
Coun. Martyn Vick (Ind. Newent and Oxenham) is quoted as saying: "Stroud district council publishes figures of member attendances and there are people on this council who you don't see from one six-months to another. That is a waste of taxpayers' money."
Given the above comments/concerns would it be possible for your paper to publish the attendance records of all Forest of Dean councillors at full council and committee meetings for the last 12 months, and thereafter on, say, a six monthly basis? It would also be interesting to learn exactly how much each councillor has received.
If this is possible the council tax payer will know where their money is going, and the voter will know if their councillors are doing the job they were elected to do, or simply looking for a free ride aboard that ubiquitous form of transport referred to above by Coun. John Harrison-Higgins.
Published attendance records would thus ensure a degree of public accountability via the voting system. – Interested voter, Whitecroft (name and address supplied).