Taxpayers top up councillors' pensions

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."