Free meal for Southend councillors sparks outrage (From Southend Standard)
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Free meal for Southend councillors sparks outrage
8:00am Monday 16th July 2012 in Southend
By Stephen Hackwell
COUNCILLORS could soon be tucking into free meals before major meetings, despite slashing £12million from public spending.
Bosses at Southend Council have agreed to pay for a two-course meal for all councillors and senior officers attending Thursday’s full council meeting for the first time in three years.
Tory chiefs argue the move lets councillors, who have to come straight from work to satisfy their hunger, as well as allowing different parties to mingle informally before official business begins.
The move has been criticised by Labour councillors and campaigners, who called for the council to show “a little humility”.
Julian Ware-Lane, a Labour councillor for Milton, said: ““What sort of message does this send to the electorate? That the council is happy to cut services, but still wants free meals?”
Jack Monroe, a Labour activist and avid blogger, added: “This is the same council that can’t afford to prop up the essential meals-on-wheels service for our elderly any more, but can afford to lay on a two-course meal for its elected members.
“I’m absolutely, utterly disgusted.”
Free meals before full council meetings were scrapped in 2009 as part of a cost-cutting exercise by Tory chiefs.
In this year’s budget, bosses outlined cuts worth nearly £12million, including raising the daily price of the meals-on-wheels service from £3 to £4.50 and slashing 120 jobs.
Nigel Holdcroft, the Tory council leader, said he decided to reintroduce a meal before the meeting after discussions with the three other group leaders and the chief executive, Rob Tinlin.
The meal will be used to gauge its popularity, and a decision will then be made as to whether to continue the practice for the rest of the political year – a total of five meetings.
Mr Holdcroft said there was a chance councillors could be charged for any future meals.
He said: “My own view is that some suitable catering should be on offer to members and officers, and, in particular, those who have no opportunity to return home because of the length and timing of the meetings.
“However, assuming we can deliver a reasonable quality and choice, this should be subject to a charge.”
Comments(37)
fletch12107
says...
8:23am Mon 16 Jul 12
alongtheway
says...
8:26am Mon 16 Jul 12
Lefty Cyclist Type
says...
8:32am Mon 16 Jul 12
One word:
Pigs.
AuldGit
says...
9:04am Mon 16 Jul 12
asbo uncut
says...
9:06am Mon 16 Jul 12
Lefty Cyclist Type wrote:too right. i'm all for slash and burn but it has to be one rule.
Unbelievable. They raised the price of meals on wheels for the elderly and vulnerable citing 'cuts' as the reason, now they stick their snouts in the trough and award themselves free meals?
One word:
Pigs.
AndyBSG
says...
9:43am Mon 16 Jul 12
Well, that's going to be a tough decision.
"So, did everyone enjoy their free dinner? Good, now let's all vote on if we think we should carry on getting free meals"
No one disputes the fact that people need to eat but why does the taxpayer have to pick up the bill? We have a canteen at my work and, like most people in the real world, I pay for anything I choose to eat from there.
tepluap
says...
9:51am Mon 16 Jul 12
tepluap
says...
9:52am Mon 16 Jul 12
notinwestcliffanymore
says...
10:14am Mon 16 Jul 12
Lefty Cyclist Type
says...
11:10am Mon 16 Jul 12
http://www.echo-news
.co.uk/news/local_ne
ws/southend/9560940.
Nora_fights_price_ri
se_for_meals_on_whee
ls/
From the linked story:
"… supporting the Southend District Pensioner’s Campaign group in its protest against Southend Council plans to increase the price of the meals from £3 to £4.50 a day.
The rise, currently the subject of a consultation, will mean 300 people in Southend would have to pay the full cost of the meals, saving the council £168,000 a year.
It could mean those in need paying an extra £550 a year if the increase is agreed at a full council meeting on March 1."
Any councillor taking advantage of this disgusting TORY proposal should be thoroughly ashamed that it is being financed through taking food from the mouths of the elderly and vulnerable.
I find this utterly sickening and morally repugnant. I am not at all surprised to see this is a TORY proposal. Typical 'I'm alright Jack' greedy stuffing-their-faces at the trough TORY thinking.
tepluap
says...
12:38pm Mon 16 Jul 12
Lefty Cyclist Type
says...
12:43pm Mon 16 Jul 12
tepluap wrote:Email your local councillor politely expressing your disgust at this proposal. List of contacts here, just click your local councillor's name and their contact details will be shown:
Sorry I posted twice earlier,, we all appear to be in agreement that this is a disgusting abuse of our money.. but where can we complain to? seems they are all in it together. Id like a way that I could opt out of paying taxes, and only pay for what is deemed a good service, so i'd be saving a pretty bob or two !
http://apps.southend
.gov.uk/democracy/co
uncillors.asp?displa
y=all
Blind Haze
says...
1:05pm Mon 16 Jul 12
emcee
says...
1:49pm Mon 16 Jul 12
Absolutely appalling.
Alice in Her Own Land :P
says...
1:51pm Mon 16 Jul 12
Lefty Cyclist Type
says...
1:58pm Mon 16 Jul 12
It also appears this was not voted on, it was unilaterally decided by the council's Tories.
emcee
says...
2:07pm Mon 16 Jul 12
Lefty Cyclist Type wrote:And your councillor's name is..?
My local councillor has mailed me saying they will not be taking any free meals and stating they are as disgusted at this tory proposal as me.
It also appears this was not voted on, it was unilaterally decided by the council's Tories.
Don't forget you have two other councillors, what do they say? What are the others doing.
Bosniavet
says...
2:12pm Mon 16 Jul 12
"Nigel Holdcroft, the Tory council leader, said he decided to reintroduce a meal before the meeting after discussions with the three other group leaders and the chief executive, Rob Tinlin."
This clearly shows that some form of concensus between all four groupings represented on the council, as well as senior council employees has been reached on this matter.
It also clearly states in the article that this free meal is for one time only, & that it is envisaged that if it were to become a permanent feature of council meetings, councillors should expect to pay.
For myself, as I have previously stated, I do not agree with councillors being given free meals, & believe that they should pay commercial rates for any such meals provided. However, I do have a fear that if they are expected to pay, we will find out that they have been able to claim the cost back as expenses, which is totally wrong in every way imaginable.
Lefty Cyclist Type
says...
2:24pm Mon 16 Jul 12
Bosniavet wrote:Actually the article states: "The meal will be used to gauge its popularity, and a decision will then be made as to whether to continue the practice for the rest of the political year – a total of five meetings."
Whilst I realise some posters to this site always want to make everything into a political issue, I would just like to make a direct quote from the article as published above:-
"Nigel Holdcroft, the Tory council leader, said he decided to reintroduce a meal before the meeting after discussions with the three other group leaders and the chief executive, Rob Tinlin."
This clearly shows that some form of concensus between all four groupings represented on the council, as well as senior council employees has been reached on this matter.
It also clearly states in the article that this free meal is for one time only, & that it is envisaged that if it were to become a permanent feature of council meetings, councillors should expect to pay.
For myself, as I have previously stated, I do not agree with councillors being given free meals, & believe that they should pay commercial rates for any such meals provided. However, I do have a fear that if they are expected to pay, we will find out that they have been able to claim the cost back as expenses, which is totally wrong in every way imaginable.
So, not a 'one time only' thing at all.
SARFENDMAN
says...
2:59pm Mon 16 Jul 12
Please substitute the word "greed" in place of "hunger. Any other suggestions?
A Pedant
says...
3:23pm Mon 16 Jul 12
reptile
says...
4:01pm Mon 16 Jul 12
Lefty Cyclist Type wrote:I have to state this is the first time I have ever agreed with you.
Unbelievable. They raised the price of meals on wheels for the elderly and vulnerable citing 'cuts' as the reason, now they stick their snouts in the trough and award themselves free meals?
One word:
Pigs.
Gina the weaner
says...
4:05pm Mon 16 Jul 12
maxell
says...
4:07pm Mon 16 Jul 12
jolllyboy
says...
6:10pm Mon 16 Jul 12
No just having to put up with seeing the faces of Nigel Holdcroft, mr Tinlin (and David Amess) in the paper every time I open it, now they want to eat for free.
indecent.
Keptquiettillnow
says...
6:07am Tue 17 Jul 12
Maybe they need to live in the area then, and live with some of their ideas.
The Cater Wood Creeper
says...
1:54pm Tue 17 Jul 12
Alekhine
says...
5:30pm Tue 17 Jul 12
The Cater Wood Creeper wrote:When will we be paying for new larger chairs or free gym membershio?
how big will the queue for seconds get?
The Cater Wood Creeper
says...
5:33pm Tue 17 Jul 12
Elasticated waistbands and seconds on pud all round!
CALL ME CLINT
says...
7:10pm Tue 17 Jul 12
The Cater Wood Creeper wrote:I have it straight from the horse's mouth that Kevin will not be making any such application. Not only would he risk his seat but he would lose his local Lake Meadows 'pleasure' venue to boot.
is there any truth in the rumour that Kevin 'who ate all the pies' Blake, the fat Burstead Counciller encumbent on Basildon Council as the member for sport and leisure (which just has to be an ironic posting given that he looks like the last person to voluntarily participate in any sport other than competitive eating) has asked for a transfer to Southend Council having heard that they're giving out free grub to Councillers?
Elasticated waistbands and seconds on pud all round!
I tried to persuade him that SBC now have a number of Green Flag rated parks in which he could be pleasured but he would have none of it.
(Sorry, people of Billericay, you'll have to wait for the next election!)
woolstone
says...
8:50pm Tue 17 Jul 12
psorias
says...
9:18pm Tue 17 Jul 12
Lefty Cyclist Type
says...
9:52pm Tue 17 Jul 12
psorias wrote:Indeed:
Why can't they take a packed lunch to work, like most people have to these days. Somehow the story brought to mind a book I read many years ago - it was called Animal Farm
http://bit.ly/NfMHHO
Mslightfoot
says...
8:53am Wed 18 Jul 12
We're not getting a museum, we're getting a car park and a 200 seat restaurant with sea views.
I have requested an opportunity to speak today at DCC and I have been told that, according to their rules, speakers are only allowed three minutes to speak. Perhaps if the Committee of Councillors stopped stuffing their faces, on my shilling, for five minutes the voice of at least one member of the public would be heard.
This is a disgrace, but there are so many disgraceful things going on in this Council it is hard to decide what to pick first to complain about; and that is why there is such a low turn out at election time, who can really be bothered in the face of this type of power and greed.
Starts with a ham sandwich, ends up with a car park buried into the cliffs.
Audioman
says...
7:27pm Wed 18 Jul 12
now thay will not going to meetings without a good meal inside.more coucils should do this take note
BASILDON !!!
southchurch bob
says...
11:52pm Wed 18 Jul 12
Bosniavet says...
8:17am Mon 16 Jul 12