Cutbacks begin at home

The prevailing noise in Calamity Hall is that of councillors weeping into their Chardonnay as the spectre of cuts grows more ominous. However, the wailing is not about front line services but the impending loss of their special responsibility allowances.

The Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (also known within the confines of the Members Lounge as ‘those effin rotten bastards’) have reportedly decided that some councillors are getting paid big bucks for doing next to nothing. This is arguably not much of a revelation in itself but the IRP are also recommending that SRAs should now be paid on a merit basis which leaves a dozen or so members in Swansea looking at round figures in their pay packets, i.e. zero.

The new arrangements are supposed to take effect in April and those on Buggin’s Turn expecting to benefit from a sinecure in the coming municipal year will now get Buggin precious little reward for their patience.

Council leader Chris Holley is said to be unfazed by the losses – not surprising since his own annual salary goes up from £45,000 to £57,000 a year under the recommendations – but he also knows that even if the monetary glue that holds his venal coalition together becomes unstuck, there is enough of a collective hatred towards Labour (and especially David Phillips) within his own ranks to ensure that his colleagues will do the job for nowt rather than go into opposition.