Is it right for council-owned companies in Wokingham to pay councillors who are appointed as non-executive directors of those companies £6095 a year?

Bear in mind when answering that 

– if the work was being done in the council and not in a hived-off company, they wouldn’t get paid extra for it

– the normal process for appointments  is they are made by full council, but that has been bypassed for appointing directors

– the normal process for determining pay rates – and indeed, the principle of pay for particular roles – is via an independent panel, but that has been bypassed for directors

– there has been no discussion or consultation or even warning that councillors would be paid for this role

– the money would be paid by the company – but the company is wholly owned by the council.  So it’s effectively still council money

– £6K is almost as much as a councillor’s basic pay and more than the extra paid to committee chairs, such as the Chair of the Planning Committee, who arguably have to do more work

The Lib Dems don’t think this is right.  How can £36K be magicked up for extra money for councillors while the council is blaming lack of money for doing away with the dog bins and public toilets, amongst other things?   

Well, what do you think?

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