Money for nothing

Swansea started to experience the effects of council cuts in action yesterday as early morning, late evening & weekend journeys were withdrawn from bus timetables. Operator First Cymru said around 25 routes in the city were affected as a result of a £200,000 drop in transport subsidy from the local authority.

Not much fun for low-income workers who rely on public transport or those struggling to get home from a late shift. But they will be even less thrilled to learn that the decision to cut subsidies was taken by cabinet members who get £29,000 a year for doing less than 8 hours work a week.

Research by local government analysts reveals that the average cabinet member is present in the civic centre for an average of just 6.9 hours each week in order to attend meetings and receive briefings. Committee chairmen, who are on £22,500 a year, are even less frequent visitors to civic offices.

The appalling figures, which are based on local research, will confirm what many council staff will already know from the number of times they pass by empty cabinet offices, committee rooms and group suites on the second floor of Calamity Hall.

Swansea Council pays out £1,306,705 a year in councillor allowances. Of that, £358,825 is made up of special responsibility allowances which are paid out on top of the basic payment given to each councillor. As has been mentioned on this blog before, cutting the cabinet from ten to six members – which is the norm in comparable local authorities in England – would save well over £100,000 a year.

Enough to put a few buses back on the road.

Update: It seems the Beans on Toast is also flagging up concerns on value for money at Calamity Hall.