Perks for councillors cut back

The budget proposals include curbing perks for councillors. Councillors currently receive a basic allowance of £10,100, with many also receiving Special Responsibilty Allowances worth thousands of pounds.

In October 2016 councillors voted through a near 27 per cent increase in their basic allowance – plus a top-up of Special Responsibility Allowances – costing the council £186,000 a year. Newly proposed changes for the 60 councillors include:

Increasing the amount paid for

•

car parking from £44 a year for an annual pass to £110.

Ending a contract for ICT support

• and bringing it in-house, saving £45,000, and ending payments for printer cartridges.

Funding mobile phones and laptops

• from each member’s allowance, saving £15,200 a year.

Cutting the budget for members

• to attend the annual Royal Garden Party from £1,500 to £500.

Reducing the budget to bestow

•

civic gifts on visitors by £2,500.

Cutting the budget for civic

•

events like Remembrance Sunday and Armed Forces Day by £7,000.

Reducing the contract for the

•

mayor’s car by £3,000 a year. In future years the mayor will drive an electric vehicle

The measures are expected to save £76,000 in the first year. This is not the first time that councillors’ perks have been scaled back. The PT previously revealed members were receiving taxpayer-funded buffets, including wine, after full council meetings at a cost of nearly £4,500. This was later reduced by £3,000 a year.

Residents can have their say on the budget at www.peterborough.gov.uk/budget or by picking up a hard copy from the Town Hall or any city library. Full council votes on the budget on December 18.