Taxpayers are paying into pensions for councillors across the region, the Express & Star can reveal.
Elected politicians at town halls are taking advantage of a special pension scheme to give them handouts after they retire.
The pensions, which were set up by the Government and started in 2003, are funded by taxpayers and are handed out on top of any pensions they might have for full-time jobs. There are 119 councillors across the region in the scheme, including Birmingham City Council which tops the league with 48.
Sandwell is second place with 21.
Wolverhampton City Council has 14 councillors signed up, Dudley Council has 10 and Walsall Council, seven.
In Staffordshire, Cannock Chase Council has nine councillors signed up from 41, one of the highest pro-rata figures locally, while Staffordshire County Council has 10, taking the region’s tally to 119.
The Taxpayers Alliance has criticised the councillors as “careerists” who are trying to retire with public sector pensions from roles that are essentially voluntary.
They claim it encourages the full-time local politician, who lives off their annual allowance and looks forward to a comfortable pension on retirement.
Councillor Neville Patten, leader of Wolverhampton City Council, said he had a Local Government Pension Scheme from his previous job driving the buses.
“I don’t have one for being a councillor, but I’ve got no problem with those that do. For many councillors it is a seven days a week, full-time role. When it was introduced to us we were not pushed to join,” he added.
But Mark Wallace, from the Taxpayers Alliance, said: “I don’t think it is justified for any councillor to be taking out a pension at our expense.These people are supposed to be public servants, not careerists with pensions the envy of the private sector. It’s a disgrace.”
16 Comments
The gravy-train keeps on rolling along.
oink oink oink
So Sandwell Councillors, have not only consistently failed to run the borough efficiently, they have not only turned it into a clone of a 3rd world Asian /African country with dirty roads and shopping centres, blocked up drains that cause flooding to houses and footpaths, they have made us the residents of Sandwell a laughing stock of the country if not the world, with that monstrosity called the Public, that cost us the tax payers £57 million, we are now footing the bill for these failures to retire in comfort with a pension paid for by us, the struggling Council Tax Payers.
Jim of Bearwood
We can vote councillors in and out but it is like re-arranging the furniture on the Titanic. Wolverhampton Council is the most inefficient, Kafka-esque failing institution I have ever had the misfortune of dealing with. If it was a private business it would go bust by lunchtime. The trouble is no-one has time in their life to do anything about it so we just accept it. And while no-one is looking these faux-obsequious, egotistical, money-grabbing grubby little councillors fill their pockets.
So we’ll tut, moan and shake our heads about this for a while. But things like this will continue to happen. And I guarantee this will continue even if we get useless Labour out of government and let the Tories in.
“These people are supposed to be public servants, not careerists with pensions the envy of the private sector. It’s a disgrace.”
All under New Labour.
While the hard working are paying more Taxes since the thieving of the 10p rate.
At one time it was a proud moment to call yourself a Councillor. Now they should bow there heads in disgrace.
RIP OFF BRITIAN… FULL OF KNOCK OFF NIGELS!
Why I thought Councillors did the job as a secondary job to their main occupation so why have a pension from being a councillor. This needs to be stopped.
so neville patten says its a seven day week for many lets put them on the clock then just to see how many do this or is this another piece of spin
i think they earn their pensions and £30,000 SALERIES oh sorry EXPENSES!
If someone gave me money, and they specified that it should only be used for a certain purpose, if I then used that money for a purpose other than what it was specified it should be used for, and if I benefited from that act, I would be charged with fraud, possibly embezzlement, and certainly misappropriation of funds!!!!!!!!
I gave my Council Tax payment to Sandwell Council, for the specific purpose of providing me, as a Sandwell Resident taxpayer, with the services, as stipulated in British law, I didn’t give my Council Tax payment to Sandwell Council, to provide councillors with private pension, because I wasn’t consulted or made aware that my Council Tax payment was going to be used for this purpose, I feel I have been deceived, I also feel that the police should be investigating the legality of this scheme, Sandwell Council have taken my money under false pretences.
Jim Gull
Its about time that all councillors have a maximum time they can spend in the position for life, and that they can serve on only one public body at a time. Too Many councils have members that are steered by political alligance and dont truley represent the public who vote them in.
Brian, of course they are steered by political allegiance. Most are members of a party, they tend to vote as a party on important issues. Or could find themselves not proposed for re-election for the party.
Then they lose their council place.
I’m not saying for one minute I agree with it, but it does happen a hell of a lot.
The average for the majority of Councillors is 10 to 12k - its called freedom of information act, plus i think most Councillors provide the information on their respective websites.
as for reporting them to the Police… err doesnt public money pay Police pension, oh fire, nurses etc
West Midlands is finished, the councillors are Mp’s just about sum up the area…a laughing stock
me said, as for reporting them to the Police… err doesnt public money pay Police pension, oh fire, nurses etc
eeeeerrrr ME, yes it does, perhaps that’s because they are employed in full time occupations, and like everyone else, are entitled to receive an occupational pension.
Notice anything ME said????????? After volunteering their services to the community, Councillors if they are lucky enough, are elected to represent the electorate, that’s their position, they do it on a voluntary bases, no one is forcing them to do it, if they want to receive a pension paid for by me, then they should stand down as a PART TIME, elected councillor, and they should then apply for a full time job like thousands of other council employees have to do.
I hope that explanation will prevent you making silly statements again, gaining access to all the facts often helps to make a balanced judgement on issues.
Jim of Bearwood.