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Peter Black and South Wales West Liberal DemocratsRepresenting Aberavon, Bridgend, Gower, Neath, Ogmore, Port Talbot, and Swansea |
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Travel Expenses Down 28% compared to Labour's time in Office
November 16, 2007 12:00 AM
A group of Swansea Administration Councillors have presented the "Taxpayers of Swansea" with a cheque, reimbursing the people of Swansea with nearly half a million pounds.
After coming to power in June 2004 the Lib Dem / Independent Administration took the brave decision to cut their own Special Responsibility Allowances for 4 years - those allowances given to Councillors in positions of Authority. Over the 4 years that the Administration has been in control of Swansea, the total saving will be around £1/2 Million, this money was earmarked for extra street cleaning.
In the first weeks of Administration, the Lib Dem/Independent Group looked at how much Labour councillors had been paying themselves and were shocked. They took the unusual decision to cut the special responsibility allowances by 20% across the board and to use the money to clean streets. This cut has saved £446,021 over 4 years.
The money Councillors claim in travel and subsistence expenses is also down - around 28% on average. In Labours last year in office £50,884 was claimed by Councillors, by comparison in the Swansea Administrations first year in office it was £39,134 and an average of £36,542 per year over the 3 years 2004-07. A saving on travel expenses of over 3 years of £53,287.
Together these two savings are a total of £489,714.
Councillor Nick Tregoning of Dunvant Ward commenting on the savings said "It is clear that the Lib Dem-led Administration offers better value for money than Labour, who used to spend on their own allowances but couldn't find the money to maintain our schools properly"
He added "we have asked every department in the Council to make savings over the last 3 years, it is only right that Councillors do the same with their own allowances"
Councillor Alan Robinson, from St Thomas Ward when asked about the travel expenses said "The Administration inherited a secretive system of expense claims from the previous Labour Administration, and we have been putting in place a more open system of Councillors allowances including online updates for Councillors allowances and attendance"
"The records show that on average the Administration has cost the taxpayer 28% less over the last 3 years than when Labour used to be in office - that's money we can spend on schools!" he added.
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