Bedford Borough Council’s Conservative Group has welcomed the decision of Liberal Democrat and Labour councillors at last to stop voting themselves pay increases while making staff redundant and cutting services.
Over the last 5 years the Mayor’s Liberal Democrat and Labour administration has rejected Conservative proposals to freeze or reduce allowances whilst simultaneously complaining about reductions in the Council’s resources.
Cllr Stephen Moon, Conservative Group Leader, was pleased to see the ‘sinners repent’ at the Council’s meeting on the 11th January. He said:
‘The Conservative Group has voted consistently against pay increases. It is a basic point of principle that you do not vote to improve your own position when that costs others their jobs. The budgeted cost of councillors’ allowances has risen by £57k since 2011 and the total spent has increased by £180k. When all other areas of expenditure are being cut, that is a disgrace.
'It has been astonishing to hear Liberal Democrat and Labour councillors complain about funding reductions and yet still vote for their pay packets to be topped up year on year.
‘We are pleased that the hypocrisy shown by the Liberal Democrat and Labour administration is now at an end with all parties agreeing a pay freeze for councillors in 2017/18. It has taken many years for our campaign for pay restraint to prevail but at last the sinners repent.’