Promoted by
Pam Currie, National Secretary
on behalf of the Scottish Socialist Party, 70 Stanley Street, Glasgow, G41
1JB
Press release
SSP says ut councillors mileage expenses
PRESS NOTICE. 18/04/2007
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Shetland SSP candidates say cut councillors’ expenses.
Prospective Shetland Islands Council candidates, Robbie Leith and Kevin Learmonth, both standing for the Scottish Socialist Party, have hit out at councillors’ mileage expenses which Kevin Learmonth describes as “excessive”.
A prospective SIC councillor for Lerwick North, Kevin Learmonth said that
if elected he would propose a motion to cut the current 49.3p per mile councillors’ currently
claim to a more modest 35p per mile. On current council figures this would
save the council about £9000 a year. In addition the mileage would
be paid at a flat rate, so those driving larger, less efficient vehicles
would not be paid extra.
“
Our proposal both saves money and reduces unnecessary journeys. Instead of
cutting services to vulnerable people, the current sitting councillors could
have been looking at some of their own expenses claims” he said.
Last year councillors’ claimed nearly £31,000 in mileage alone.
Lerwick South candidate Robbie Leith said “its high time Shetland councillors’ put their own house in order and showed they were serious about creating a value for money council”.
The candidates both claim that cutting councillors mileage expenses is a small first step, and that there are “many other areas of councillors’ expenditure which should be looked at, not least air travel. “It’s a start” said Mr Learmonth. “As a party the SSP is serious about value for money and putting resources where they are needed. Paying an excessive mileage rate to councillors’ is not value for money, and is certainly not good use of public money “ he explained.
The local SSP branch chair stressed that this was not a party political matter, it was simply “common sense” and that he “welcomed the support of other candidates in cutting councillors’ expenses”.
On Tuesday (24 April) the local branch will host a public meeting in Brae High School staff room at 7 pm with the SSP list candidate for Highland and Islands, Donnie Nicolson. In Lerwick on Wednesday the council candidates will face the public at a meeting at 7 pm in Islesburgh.