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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Concern over councillor payouts | Concern over councillor payouts |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Councillors in line for payouts of up to £20,000 have been urged to hand back the money if they stand as candidates for the Scottish Parliament. | Councillors in line for payouts of up to £20,000 have been urged to hand back the money if they stand as candidates for the Scottish Parliament. |
| The challenge was issued by deputy Scottish Tory leader Murdo Fraser, who is concerned that some of the councillors plan to stand for Holyrood. | The challenge was issued by deputy Scottish Tory leader Murdo Fraser, who is concerned that some of the councillors plan to stand for Holyrood. |
| A total of 434 councillors could share a payout of £7.1m under a Scottish Executive-funded severance scheme. | A total of 434 councillors could share a payout of £7.1m under a Scottish Executive-funded severance scheme. |
| The SNP's Stewart Maxwell called the payments a "bribe" to solve a headache. | The SNP's Stewart Maxwell called the payments a "bribe" to solve a headache. |
| Tax-free sums of £10,000, £15,000, or £20,000 are available, depending on the length of service. | Tax-free sums of £10,000, £15,000, or £20,000 are available, depending on the length of service. |
| They will go to councillors who stand down before the May local government elections when a system of proportional representation comes into force. | They will go to councillors who stand down before the May local government elections when a system of proportional representation comes into force. |
| See how many are considering going in your council | See how many are considering going in your council |
| While the politicians taking the payments cannot stand again as councillors, there is nothing to stop them going on to seek election to the parliament. | While the politicians taking the payments cannot stand again as councillors, there is nothing to stop them going on to seek election to the parliament. |
| Mr Fraser told BBC Radio Scotland: "The public will be dismayed at the sight of politicians trying to put cash into their grubby little hands. Politics should be about public service. | Mr Fraser told BBC Radio Scotland: "The public will be dismayed at the sight of politicians trying to put cash into their grubby little hands. Politics should be about public service. |
| "It's an absolute disgrace that we have people who are on the one hand taking these redundancy payments but at the same time seeking election to the Scottish Parliament - where they will receive a salary well in excess of what they could have been receiving as a councillor. | "It's an absolute disgrace that we have people who are on the one hand taking these redundancy payments but at the same time seeking election to the Scottish Parliament - where they will receive a salary well in excess of what they could have been receiving as a councillor. |
| "People standing for election to the parliament have to make a decision - either they are going to do that, or that they are going to step down and take the money." | "People standing for election to the parliament have to make a decision - either they are going to do that, or that they are going to step down and take the money." |
| Mr Maxwell said the scheme made the executive look "incompetent" | Mr Maxwell said the scheme made the executive look "incompetent" |
| He said councillors could not have "their cake and eat it". | He said councillors could not have "their cake and eat it". |
| Mr Fraser also criticised suggestions that some councillors were considering giving the money to charity. | Mr Fraser also criticised suggestions that some councillors were considering giving the money to charity. |
| "I don't think it's right to take money from the taxpayer and give it to the charity of your choice," he said. | "I don't think it's right to take money from the taxpayer and give it to the charity of your choice," he said. |
| "I don't think they should take the money in the first place." | "I don't think they should take the money in the first place." |
| The executive has issued a list of the names of the 434, or 35% of Scotland's councillors, seeking the payoff but gave no details of their parties, length of service, or how much each would get. | The executive has issued a list of the names of the 434, or 35% of Scotland's councillors, seeking the payoff but gave no details of their parties, length of service, or how much each would get. |
| A spokesman said it would be "more appropriate" for local authorities to release more detailed information. | A spokesman said it would be "more appropriate" for local authorities to release more detailed information. |
| Mr Maxwell, Nationalist MSP for the west of Scotland, said: "The executive are very clear that they want to keep this under a lid if they possibly can. | Mr Maxwell, Nationalist MSP for the west of Scotland, said: "The executive are very clear that they want to keep this under a lid if they possibly can. |
| "I think it's a mistake on their part because they look incompetent and lacking transparency." | "I think it's a mistake on their part because they look incompetent and lacking transparency." |
| It is entirely up to the individual to choose what they do with their payment Cosla spokesman | It is entirely up to the individual to choose what they do with their payment Cosla spokesman |
| In the Western Isles, 19 out of 31 councillors plan to quit, with about half of those in the Highlands, Orkney, Inverclyde, and East Renfrewshire expected to retire. | In the Western Isles, 19 out of 31 councillors plan to quit, with about half of those in the Highlands, Orkney, Inverclyde, and East Renfrewshire expected to retire. |
| In Glasgow, 22 of the city's councillors are taking the severance deals at an anticipated cost of £400,000. | |
| Uptake appears to be lowest in East Ayrshire, where all but four of the 32 councillors plan to stand again. | Uptake appears to be lowest in East Ayrshire, where all but four of the 32 councillors plan to stand again. |
| Almost half - 43% - of those planning to retire are from the Labour Party with 11% from the Liberal Democrats and the same figure from the SNP. About 8% are Conservatives. | Almost half - 43% - of those planning to retire are from the Labour Party with 11% from the Liberal Democrats and the same figure from the SNP. About 8% are Conservatives. |
| Many of those going will be Labour councillors who have served for years but stand little chance of re-election under the new system. | Many of those going will be Labour councillors who have served for years but stand little chance of re-election under the new system. |
| 'Public service' | 'Public service' |
| Responding to the call for the payouts to be returned, a spokesman for the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) said: "This is a one-off payment to an individual that recognises length of service. | Responding to the call for the payouts to be returned, a spokesman for the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) said: "This is a one-off payment to an individual that recognises length of service. |
| "It is entirely up to the individual to choose what they do with their payment. | "It is entirely up to the individual to choose what they do with their payment. |
| "It is also worth remembering that councillors are people who have not been paid a wage for years of dedicated public service and councillors have never had any pension entitlement." | "It is also worth remembering that councillors are people who have not been paid a wage for years of dedicated public service and councillors have never had any pension entitlement." |
| Liberal Democrat MSP Mike Rumbles said: "It is right that we recognise the contribution councillors have made to their communities. | Liberal Democrat MSP Mike Rumbles said: "It is right that we recognise the contribution councillors have made to their communities. |
| "However I believe that the executive should have been absolutely open and published all details about the use of this public money. | "However I believe that the executive should have been absolutely open and published all details about the use of this public money. |
| "Full details should be in the public domain." | "Full details should be in the public domain." |