West End letters: every penny counts | Cllr Colin Barrow | MEDIA | scrutinise | MP expenses | local councillors | £870 | financial | claiming

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West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 29 May 2009

Our duty is to ensure every penny counts

• AS the media continue rightfully to scrutinise the often bizarre expenses that many MPs have claimed, in the next few weeks the spotlight will in all probability turn to local councils.
It would be wrong, however, to tar local government with the same brush.
The vast majority of local councillors do a brilliant job serving their local communities, with many of them treating it as a full-time job.
Local councils operate under a vastly different system from central government and are certainly in no position to claim for second homes, furniture and mortgages.
Yes, councillors do cost the taxpayer money but they are modestly paid in comparison to MPs with every claim fiercely scrutinised.
Indeed, at Westminster we are more than prepared to be completely open about councillors’ expenses.
A total of just over £870 was claimed last year, an average of just over £14 per councillor.
Some members including myself have chosen to forego claiming expenses altogether.
In the next financial year, we have also decided to freeze members’ allowances.
Politicians, both at a national and local level, have a duty to the electorate to ensure that every penny counts.
At a time when the national mood towards politicians is one of distrust, it is important to remember that many councillors are often the unsung heroes of their local communities, working tirelessly on behalf of their local residents and businesses.
Cllr Colin Barrow
Leader
Westminster City Council

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, West End Extra, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@westendextra.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Wednesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld.
Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number.
Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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