Unregistered User
27 August 2010
11:3967394Thank you Howard .
I buy my own sandwich when in the office.
Sandwiches are occasionally served at business meetings when non council participants work thru. or give up their lunches to attend meetings.
I think the point to make is Councillors are entitled to claim for meals etc. as mentioned in a previous posting.
This is expensive if all Councillors claimed full entitlement.
This is not a DDC set allowance but a national one that is set by government.
DDC provide a simple/small buffet that is more cost effective and thereby stops claims for subsistence-[saving money].
Watty
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
27 August 2010
11:4467395rhys has put his blog details on the front page for anyone who wants to read his original article that sparked this thread.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,835
27 August 2010
11:5667399Guess what I am back.
Just because something is an entitlement, an allowance or an expense does not mean it is morally right as the MPs found out.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Unregistered User
27 August 2010
12:0767400Maybe not ,I am not defending the position just pointing it out.
As Sid identified there are others you perhaps should follow up.
Watty
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
27 August 2010
12:1367401just had a thought, i do sometimes.
the express has been proved right in publishing their article, 64 posts in a day are evidence of this.
at the present rate this will pass the record breaking u.k.i.p thread.
it could only happen in august.
Unregistered User
27 August 2010
12:1767406Good journalist Rhys.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
27 August 2010
14:1267413Jan - businesses also do lay on a buffet and refreshment for business meetings.
There is nothing abnormal or wrong with that and it is quite reasonable for council's to do so for members in the way DDC does. Clearly if it was caviar and quails egg that might be a different matter!!!
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,835
27 August 2010
16:3867423Howard...
Are you insinuating that this topic has only got such a response because it is the summer silly season.
BarryW...
I know businesses lay on buffets and other lovely freebies, this is usually to drum up customers. How many also provide their workers with a free sandwich when they turn up for work. My daughter works for Morrisons she has to BUY her sandwich like the vast majority of the working population.
Strange how many of those defending the councillors' freebies keep ignoring this fact, I wonder why.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
27 August 2010
17:1067426spot on jan, just as on a main television news programme they done a story on that dead carp.
if anyone thinks that 5 grand is a lot of dosh to spend on food then they have never been to a candlelight soiree at chez colette and barry.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
27 August 2010
17:1567428lol!
I have that much in my back pocket as I write Howard! On the scale of things it strikes me that its quite a lowly amount. Jan I think with regard your daughter in Morrison...perhaps one could argue that she is in a paid job whereas the councillors do it all as volunteers.
Guest 663- Registered: 20 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,136
27 August 2010
17:2967431While this topic seems to upset some I for one am glad sometimes for that cupper and sandwhich that is supplied,especially if I've been at work all day and then have a couple of meetings to go to.
which sometimes means you dont have time to pick anything up.
Mind you I've seen our Dover Express reporters tucking into the buffet when they've been at the council meetings maybe next time they come they can bring there own.
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
27 August 2010
17:3267432Jan don't your daughter get a discount.?
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
27 August 2010
17:3767437Jan - the whole point is that councillors are not truly employees as such. If they were then the the minimum wage laws will have been broken, smashed to smithereens. They are volunteers who get a small measure of compensation for what they do.
Back when I left DDC after 12 years as a councillor, being self-employed, in the first year my income jumped over 50% despite the loss of allowances. That was thanks to being able to focus better on my business and not being so pulled away from it. It actually costs people money to be on the council so a small buffet at meeting is not too much to expect.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
27 August 2010
17:4167438just i case anyone missed it go back to post 8 from terry and download the video.
a chortle is guaranteed.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,835
27 August 2010
19:2767459Yes my daughter does get a discount but she does not get an allowance for the trousers and shoes that get ruined in her department.
Councillors way not get a wage packet but they get this allowance that is paid for by every single council tax payer.
I am obviously wasting my time on this thread that is dominated by councillors, ex-councillors, wanna be councillors and councillors' friends.
Nothing that has been said has changed my opinion about this freebe.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
27 August 2010
19:3067460With all the spending cuts affecting the country at the moment surely the council could spend less on there buffet .
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
27 August 2010
19:3567462Don't forget this is HISTORIC information from last financial year before all of the budget cuts etc started occuring. Most authorities now have some sort of spending moratorium and I am sure this is something that is being looked at.....
Been nice knowing you :)
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
27 August 2010
19:4167463jan
i can only think of 4 councillors off the top of my head out of our 96 members.
27 August 2010
19:5767469I think tescos tea , coffee and biscuits would be ok for our hard working councilors , i look forward to seeing them at election time .
27 August 2010
21:1667502Jan Higgins,
In answer to your three questions "No I am not away, No I am not keeping quiet, and no I am not scared of offending my friends"
Thank you for your assumption that I have friends on the forum, sadly misplaced assumption as I do not know any one on the forum apart from there jottings. Mind you some of there jottings leave me with a sense of relief and before any one comes back at me I know my own jottings p**S some people off, but there you go
that' life!!