AGAINST a backdrop of an economic recession, which has left thousands of people jobless and homeless, County Councillors in Monmouthshire have voted for inflation busting pay rises for "special responsibility allowances".

Meanwhile, it appears the County Council is fast earning itself a reputation for failing to deal with matters raised by Council Taxpayers.

One reader told The Beacon this week "If there is nothing to hide, why are our councillors not forthcoming with information?" And another reader, from Raglan, claimed she was finding it impossible to obtain answers to letters she had sent to County Hall regarding lorries using roads in the village. "Clearly, writing a letter is a waste of time" she said.

Information given to The Beacon said, at a meeting of the Conservative controlled County Council, increases for the Leader of the Council, Deputy Leader, Cabinet Members and Committee Chairs and some vice-chairs were approved seeing an average increase of nearly 40 per cent, and, in some cases, increases in the order of 400 per cent. The total amount of the increases in senior councillor pay is £50,000.

Special Responsibility allowances are paid to members of the council who hold positions of authority within in the council.

Figures given to The Beacon have revealed the following increases:

Peter Fox, Conservative, who represents Portskewett will as leader of the council receive an increase from £22,309 to £27,679, a 24 per cent increase;

Bob Greenland, Conservative, who represents the Devauden ward will see his allowances as Deputy Leader of the Council increase from £12,270 to £15,222, another 24 per cent increase.

Members of the Cabinet will see their special allowances increase from £11,155 to £13,839, a 24 per cent increase: Liz Hackett Pain (Wyesham Ward); Phil Murphy (Caerwent); Eric Saxon (Llanfoist Fawr); Brian Hood (Llanover) and Bryan Jones (Goetre Fawr) The Leader of the Labour Group, Counc Ron Higginson (Caldicot Severn ward) will see an increase from £6,692 to £8,304 (a 24 per cent increase)

Chairs of Select Committees will see their special allowances increased by 48 per cent to £8,304 from the existing £5,577: Ann Webb (Tintern & St. Arvans ward); Giles Howard (Llanelly Hill); Roger Harris (Croesonen); Paul Jordan (Abergavenny, Cantref)

Planning Committee Chair, Counc Peter Clarke (Llangybi Fawr) will see his allowance increase by 49 per cent from £5,577 to £8,105, whilst Planning Committee Vice-Chair, John Major (Con, Magor & Undy Mill) rising a huge 98 per cent increase from £2,789 to £5,534.

Licensing Committee Chair, Jimmy Harris (Magor and Undy The Elms) sees an increase of 66 per cent from £5,018 to £8,304, whilst vice-chair of the committee Anne Webb (Con, St. Arvan's & Tintern) sees the biggest increase of special allowances in the order of 396 per cent rising to £4,419 from the previous £1,115.

During the debate it emerged that the council did not yet have the money for the increases in its budget and that savings would have to be found to pay for the new level of senior councillors' pay.

Phil Hobson, leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, whose group voted against the increases, argued that the "vast increases from Special Responsibility Allowances during this time of acute economic hardship should not go-ahead."

He added, "This is time to show restraint, to tighten our belts and share the pain that people out there are experiencing right now. In my ward I have constituents who work at Corus Llanwern who are facing a prolong Christmas shutdown and there is real apprehension about the future of their jobs. Vast increases now would be totally inappropriate."

Councillors voted to go-ahead with the recommendations, with Labour and Conservative Groups supporting the increases and Liberal Democrats voting against.

Monmouthshire's increase in allowances for senior councillors is the second only in Wales this year, with Conservative controlled Vale of Glamorgan passing similar increases in October.

Leader of County Council, Peter Fox, said "I have always considered it embarrassing and inappropriate that members set the level of allowances for themselves from public funds.

"I welcome the decision of the Welsh Assembly Government to set up an independent remuneration panel and support the decision of Monmouthshire County Council to accept the recommendations of the panel which will put all councils on an equal basis. 

Councillor Fox also added that he wholeheartedly agreed with the panel's report which states:

"We feel strongly that the role of the councillor across Wales should be respected as a professional one.  In the interests of equity and consistency the panel encourages all councils to pay the maximum Basic Allowance and Special Responsibility Allowance that has been set." 

To find out what happened at the council meeting last month... see your Monmouthshire Beacon issue dated December 3rd.